THREAD

ON SOLVING THE DEFICIENCIES IN CURRENT RESISTANCE STRATEGY

As detailed in my last thread, the current resistance strategy suffers from fatal flaws.

https://twitter.com/1JoshGreenberg/status/1285668767599603712

1

Our leadership is failing to deliver the unparalleled response that is necessary to decisively defeat Trump and authoritarianism.

Here, I discuss what we must do—emergently—to remedy the strategic deficiencies.

Before discussing new strategies, let’s recall three key points.

2

First, what is Trump’s universe? It is one of perceived legitimacy—grounded on media, on unimaginable surprise, on circumvention, on suppression, and on violence.

His universe is 𝘯𝘰𝘵 our current governing institutions, including free and fair elections.

3

In fact, Trump seeks to actively destroy these institutions so that they can no longer credibly vest power in our leaders. Under such circumstances, power will then be vested through other means.

4

As a populist leader, he exploits an extremely loyal group of followers to masquerade as though he has the support of the majority of the people.

5

Second, the current resistance strategy is unidimensional, predicated entirely on the electoral process.

This approach fails to account for more violent eventualities that may arise from our present crisis.

6

We speak of such worst-case scenarios not because we are certain that they will happen. Rather, we speak of them because we must take action to avert them.

In other words, effective, reliable strategy must be multipronged. It must also be forward-looking.

7

Third, remember the existence of the so-called “Trump Army,” which is comprised of supporters of Trump that his campaign has apparently been grooming since as early as May.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-army-fundraising-email

8

Now, we must also come to terms with what we cannot do—namely, invoking the 25th amendment, which appears virtually impossible at this juncture.

In addition, we will not persuade Trump’s most fervent supporters to fundamentally change their viewpoints about him.

9

Keeping these realities in mind, we must consider next-best strategies for damage control at this stage.

10

Our goal must now be to delegitimize Trump within his universe.

Current election-based strategies are a start: it is essential that we trounce him in the election because this will help to delegitimize his image and his perceived power.

11

However, Trump’s efforts to discredit, contest, and undermine the election, combined with potential surprise elements from both him and Russia, mean there is no guarantee of a clear-cut outcome.

Therefore, we must establish a more diversified resistance strategy.

12

After all, this may be the most important transition of power in our nation’s history.

Specifically, resistance strategy should also include the following four elements, all implemented at an entirely unparalleled scale:

(cc: @SpeakerPelosi @SenSchumer @JoeBiden)

13

(1) Counter-messaging campaign to promote peace, love, and de-escalation, along with de-radicalization of extremists.

(2) Publicity campaign to inform security forces that they should not follow unlawful or immoral orders.

14

(3) Public education campaign on democracy and fascism.

(4) Mass people’s movement in the streets, ideally led by members of Congress.

15

Strategy #1: Think of Trump’s supporters as his “fangs.” They give him perceived legitimacy and power, whether through roaring campaign rallies or, if incited, violence.

We must neutralize Trump’s fangs. Similar to the Tulsa rally, we must suck the wind out of his sails.

16

While we cannot change the core political beliefs of Trump’s supporters at this stage, we can still attempt to defang them in an effort to blunt potential violence.

Such a task is imperative to move our country away from the brink and to save American lives.

17

Specifically, we must work to beat back the current flood of hateful and divisive messages with messages of love and peace. We must not merely oppose these messages through denunciation; we must actively drown them out.

18

Psychological research suggests that this is possible. I discuss further aspects of this strategy in a recent thread on the crisis of hate and extremism in our country.

https://twitter.com/1JoshGreenberg/status/1284540297612005376

19

We must also paint the following picture in our minds: In the coming months Trump will almost certainly foment more and more and more—and more—hate.

20

We don't know exactly what will happen. But this hate, which can spread like a virus, could ultimately exceed anything that our country has experienced in recent memory.

As Trump foments hate, we must counteract it with all means possible. We must be prepared.

21

Strategy #2: This initiative also aims to defang a key source of Trump's power. We must appeal to the inner humanity of security forces and convince as many of them as possible to move away from the edge of violence, refuse to follow abhorrent orders, and lay down their arms.

22

Strategy #3: Our nation’s civic education is extremely poor, with many citizens unfamiliar with the roles of the three branches of government. We urgently need to carry out remedial public education about the dangers of authoritarianism and the importance of our democracy.

23

This effort will help drive popularity against Trump. It will also help drive more people to protest, as required by the next strategy.

24

Strategy #4: A mass people’s movement in the streets is the ultimate way to restore faith in our democratic institutions in the face of an authoritarian assault.

25

The citizenry must exercise an 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 show of moral force, unequivocally demonstrating that the populace cannot tolerate authoritarian rulers. Then Trump will begin losing his legitimacy, and some of his enablers will begin defecting.

26

Anything short of an unparalleled mass movement is bound to end in darkness.

The Black Lives Matter protests have been sustained for months, and the recent increase in the size of the protests has been encouraging. However, we need many, many, many more people to come out.

27

Congressional leaders should lead the way to attract such large crowds. This should be their priority.

Crucially, protests must remain peaceful. Any violence helps enable Trump to peddle his endless smear campaign against America.

28

All of these strategies should have started yesterday. So they must start 𝘯𝘰𝘸.

29

On an individual level, what can you do?

Call your congressperson and other local leaders!

Demand 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺, not delusion.

Demand 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, not only denunciation.

Demand 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘺, not improvisation.

Call your family and friends!

Go march!

30

I cannot assure that the foregoing strategies provide a guarantee. But they offer significant hope—better than anything we currently have.

31

Finally, these strategies provide no real solution to our deeply embedded problems. They are only geared toward moving us away from the brink. They are geared toward giving us one more chance.

32

After liberating ourselves from Trump, we must—finally—get down to the serious business of liberating ourselves from the multiple interrelated crises of our time: racial injustice, economic inequality, democratic decline, pandemic disease, and climate change.

33

The hour is late. We are running out of time.

https://twitter.com/1JoshGreenberg/status/1286351480379838465

34 - END