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Jim Carroll @jtccarroll.bsky.social · 1d

And it will require making credible assertions that, though it may take time, the law will surely come for those who are currently breaking it. The violence must be portrayed as unacceptable, lawless, and deserving of criminal sanction. 14/

Jim Carroll @jtccarroll.bsky.social · 1d

It will require propagating video and other documentation of the ongoing depredations conducted by ICE, and via coordinated warnings of what dangers are yet to come should Trump coerce the military into acting on his behalf against the American people. 13/

Jim Carroll @jtccarroll.bsky.social · 1d

all in pursuit of amassing dictatorial power and reducing American politics to rule by force and intimidation. 12/

Jim Carroll @jtccarroll.bsky.social · 1d

Turning Trumpist violence into a weapon against the president will require a consistent and relentless message from elected Democrats that the president has already unleashed disqualifying violence against the American people, and threatens far more of the same -- 11/

Jim Carroll @jtccarroll.bsky.social · 1d

2) for building public support for a Dem Party that clearly stands against political violence and in defense of the public; and 3) for working to delegitimize Trump’s presidency, as he continues to operate in violation of his oath of office. 10/

Jim Carroll @jtccarroll.bsky.social · 1d

They must use the abuses blessed by Trump as prime exhibits in a combined pro-democracy, anti-MAGA strategy: 1) for building public outrage in the hopes that enough pressure may slow or even stop Trump’s abuses; 9/

Jim Carroll @jtccarroll.bsky.social · 1d

Though they currently lack the power that would allow them to put an outright stop to MAGA mayhem and intimidation, Democrats must still do all that they can to leverage MAGA acts of violence into a potent weapon against Trump and his fascistic movement. 8/

Jim Carroll @jtccarroll.bsky.social · 1d

Dems should assert the total illegitimacy of political violence (including threats to commit such violence) by Trump and his administration; and, second, do all in their power to make MAGA violence into a political anvil that might eventually drag down Trump and the GOP. 7/

Jim Carroll @jtccarroll.bsky.social · 1d

Yet political violence is the enemy of American freedom and democracy, and must be countered effectively and decisively. There is no defeating MAGA without a strategy for defeating the political violence it is inflicting, and will continue to inflict, on American society. 6/

Jim Carroll @jtccarroll.bsky.social · 1d

Dems are unable to stop an authoritarian regime from using violence and intimidation to achieve its political goals, since Trump is willing and able to deploy such tactics, and possesses sufficient control over the federal security apparatus to do so. 5/

Jim Carroll @jtccarroll.bsky.social · 1d

The widespread state violence directed by this administration presents a daunting challenge to Dems. The basic horror of our crisis is that there is no easy, direct way to stop Trump and his henchmen from inflicting violence and terror on both non-citizens and citizens. 4/

Jim Carroll @jtccarroll.bsky.social · 1d

They seem to believe that if they can make enough people afraid to engage in politics and afraid to speak out, then they can “win” at the ballot box while preserving a veneer of democratic legitimacy. 3/

Jim Carroll @jtccarroll.bsky.social · 1d

For reasons that are both sinister and banal, Trump and his MAGA allies see threats and violence against political opponents as central to their authoritarian ambitions. 2/

Democrats must transform Trump's threats and violence against Americans into a decisive cudgel against him

Jim Carroll @jtccarroll.bsky.social · 1d

My latest at @flux.community: There is no beating the president and MAGA without a strategy for defeating the political violence they are inflicting on American society. 1/x
plus.flux.community/p/democrats-...

There is no beating the president and MAGA without a strategy for defeating the political violence they are inflicting on American society

Democrats must transform Trump's threats and violence against Americans into a decisive cudgel against him

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Reposted by Jim Carroll

flux.community @flux.community · 3d

Democrats must make Trump's violence central to their case against him

There is no beating the president and MAGA without a strategy for defeating the political violence they are inflicting on American society

Via @jtccarroll.bsky.social: plus.flux.community/p/democrats-...

There is no beating the president and MAGA without a strategy for defeating the political violence they are inflicting on American society

To stop Trump’s authoritarianism, his opponents must understand and wield power

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Reposted by Jim Carroll

Matthew Sheffield @matthew.flux.community · 4d

This one featuring @karenattiah.bsky.social discusses how the broader center-to-left has failed to understand power, at both personal and organizational levels.

We have to seek power and use it in order to protect our beliefs.

Karen Attiah, a victim of Trumpist purge at the Washington Post, discusses how liberals and progressives can get their groove back

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Reposted by Jim Carroll

The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 4d

George was just trying to get to work.

ICE pepper-sprayed him, dragged him from his car, locked him in a detention center, and placed him on suicide watch. He even missed his young daughter’s birthday in the process.

This man is a veteran and American citizen. Don't look away.

The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 4d

"They put me on suicide watch and they put me in the cell, I'm naked, in like a hospital dress and just a concrete bed with like a mattress, like a thin mattress and, they leave the light on 24/7."

@timmiller.bsky.social talked to a veteran who ICE wrongly detained and brutalized

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Jim Carroll @jtccarroll.bsky.social · 6d

This last point is vital - and beyond this, why would Dems artificially separate militaristic moves by Trump from the budget talks, as if they're the actions of 2 separate presidencies? Deployments should be seen as a vile campaign to dominate Dems, including on budget. /fin

Jim Carroll @jtccarroll.bsky.social · 6d

"What “deal” is there to make while Donald Trump is militarizing our cities, launching Fourth Amendment-violating raids on American citizens, and federalizing National Guard troops to literally invade states run by Democrats?" 3/