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A dangerous demagogue is an unaccountable leader. Unaccountable to the rule of law, unaccountable to political norms, unaccountable to the will of the people.
Trump is doing exactly what we'd expect a dangerous demagogue to do.
Trump is doing exactly what we'd expect a dangerous demagogue to do.
Trump is using a narrow definition of "the people" based on how he's used ad populum throughout: only his supporters are "true" Americans, only their votes are "legal."
He's also using conspiracy theory in the same way he's used conspiracy theory throughout: as a "self-sealing" narrative--a narrative that evidence is not allowed to prove or disprove. Here's a good explainer:
Court challenges require evidence, so conspiracy shouldn't prevail there. But the court of public opinion does not have the same standards of evidence. Your job is to protect reality. Trump lost. The vote was legitimate. The people have spoken.
Don't let it take you by surprise. This is all very predictable. It's going exactly the way I thought it would. You have a role to play as infowarriors. Trump lost. The vote was legitimate. The people have spoken.
Be prepared: Perspective | Strongman leaders take defeat poorly — just like Trump https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/11/09/strongman-trump-defeat-pinochet-election/?tid=ss_tw
Be prepared: By Declaring Victory, Donald Trump Is Attempting an Autocratic Breakthrough https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/by-declaring-victory-donald-trump-is-attempting-an-autocratic-breakthrough?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=onsite-share&utm_brand=the-new-yorker&utm_social-type=earned via @NewYorker
I know that you want to relax because the election is over. I do too. But, it isn't over until Trump concedes. I was feeling better when Republicans weren't supporting his fantasy. Now the autocratic attempt has support, which makes this much more dangerous.
The strongman looks powerful when supported by strong others, but weak/foolish when he's not. We've seen nothing but news stories saying that everyone around Trump is trying to protect his version of reality so he doesn't look foolish. How far will they go? It depends on you.
For more, read my thread on this from before Election Day: https://twitter.com/jenmercieca/status/1321791551715069953
Their legal strategy is based on a tu quoque--an appeal to hypocrisy--an ad hominem strategy designed to undermine credibility by arguing that the same rules don't apply equally--they cheat in a systematic way. There's no evidence of this. Trump lost. https://twitter.com/carriesheffield/status/1325926306371039233
