New charges against Trump focus on lies. Scholars see an authoritarian playbook NPR - https://tinyurl.com/yk7n6nth The latest federal case against Donald Trump is putting a spotlight on the role of false and baseless claims in his presidency. The indictment alleges that the former president and his co-conspirators used lies for the criminal purpose of overturning the 2020 election. For some scholars of history, its forensic look at how speech underpinned an alleged conspiracy to illegally retain power helps to situate Trump into larger historical patterns. "All authoritarian leaders have cults of personality," said Ruth Ben-Ghiat, professor of history at New York University and author of Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present. "Meaning, they propose themselves as all-powerful, as the only solution possible to the nation's ills. 'I alone can fix it.' " At times, the drumbeat of false assertions during Trump's candidacy and presidency perplexed the American press and public. So did Trump's invocation of baseless conspiracy theories, which invariably situated him as a persecuted victim of a "deep state." But Ben-Ghiat said in her studies of authoritarian leaders such as Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler, Silvio Berlusconi and Jair Bolsonaro, there was precedent for this. "The use of lies takes place in a larger effort to turn the public against alternate sources of authority," she said. Those sources might include independent courts, legislative bodies and law enforcement agencies. Or — it may be the fourth estate. "If you're looking to see if somebody's going to be a strongman, what you find is even when they start campaigning, they immediately start trying to turn the public against the press, saying [the press is] biased and that they are the truth teller against the establishment," said Ben-Ghiat. As that leader's supporters increasingly come to believe that he is the only source of truth, she said, they will be primed to believe his claims of a stolen election. "What Trump is doing is, he's asking for personal loyalty to him to outweigh the rule of law," said Jason Stanley, professor of philosophy at Yale University and author of How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them. "We see this in any authoritarian takeover of a system. We see the authoritarian say, 'Devotion to me is more important than the rule of law.' " The case will likely focus on statements that Trump and co-conspirators allegedly made in the weeks between the 2020 election and the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Nonetheless, Stanley said it may illuminate some of the mechanics that have contributed to a profound shift in American culture and society. "What jumped out to me is that we finally have a structural understanding of the way lies can undermine democracy, of the way trust is central for our democracy," he said. "Democracy relies on faith in its institutions and laws. Otherwise, there's no stability."
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/07/...trump-defamation-lawsuit-dismissed/index.html Judge dismisses Trump’s defamation lawsuit against Carroll for statements she made on CNN
I suspect that the title of this thread is actually projection. It should read--- The Election is Now About Keeping Biden Out of Prison
Sadly I think that Trump running for Prez while in prison will only bolster his popularity, and garner him that much more votage <-----(New word I just invented) and ultimately a win. I feel a lot of people will vote for him solely for the prisoner fact alone. Voting for a convict will seem chic and cool, an historic moment, as it were. Just like how I'm sure a whole lot of people voted for Obama simply because he was black, and NOT because of any of his campaign promises or political class, etc. Those people just wanted to be able to say they helped make history, by voting in the first black POTUS. Will be the same with Trump.
Putin once again shows the Republicans how it's done. Kremlin Says 'Theoretically Possible' to Not Hold Presidential Elections https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023...ble-to-not-hold-presidential-elections-a82073
Obama and Trump? I think that's an ill-conceived comparison on multiple levels. P.S. It's interesting that you're now conceding the very real possibility probability that Trump is facing prison time.
I never conceded to that. I am simply suggesting that his popularity would increase if he gets convicted/incarcerated. I'm still in the camp that nothing sticks to him, he seems to get away with everything wrong he ever does. Anyone heard anything yet about his tax returns that were delayed being released because they were still under audit? Even THAT seems to be a no-go.
Here is one win for President Donald Trump. The abuse of powers will be dealt with as it winds up in higher courts if it comes to that. Hopefully, it gets tossed in the lower courts. https://conservativebrief.com/break...hihjNhOiEsggN3d-aEMluAJtQReaUXE2zDpjwlhtvfAiM