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[CrimethInc] Trump campaign aims to use today's shooting as a sort of Reichstag fire to incite his supporters to step up street violence (slrpnk.net)
submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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https://todon.eu/@CrimethInc/112782702007709408

The Trump campaign aims to use today's shooting as a sort of Reichstag fire to incite his supporters to step up street violence while calling for more state repression targeting his enemies of choice.

The Biden campaign has already paused all outbound communications and withdrawn their television advertisements, ceding the entire field of narrative to Donald Trump, who will have no compunction about using his status as a victim to advance his efforts to victimize others.

One of the classic mechanics of totalitarianism is that protecting the safety of the leader becomes a justification for violence against large swathes of the population.

As centrists join the far right in paving the way for totalitarian rule under Trump, we have to organize to defend our communities. If you have been in denial about the challenges ahead of us, this should be a wake-up call to find each other and prepare for them.

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[–] [email protected] 108 points 1 month ago (3 children)
  • ~~Beer Hall Putsch~~ Jan 6? ✔
  • ~~Enabling Act of 1933~~ Trump immunity SCOTUS ruling? ✔
  • ~~Reichstag Fire~~ Failed assassination attempt? ✔

Night of the Long Knives coming up next, and soon.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I am soooooo glad someone else is seeing the similarities. “Those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it.” Well someone studied it and said “well damn, I can do it better”

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago

Those who do study history are doomed to watch as those who don't study it, repeat it.

[–] prole 17 points 1 month ago

Don't know if I should feel vindicated after years of warning people about this and being mocked and derided and banned, or if I'm just sad that we're allowing this to happen.

It's some bizarre mixture of the two, but sadness definitely makes up the bulk.

[–] ZombiFrancis 5 points 1 month ago

We speedrunning now.

[–] [email protected] 60 points 1 month ago (3 children)

The Biden campaign has already paused all outbound communications and withdrawn their television advertisements, ceding the entire field of narrative to Donald Trump, who will have no compunction about using his status as a victim to advance his efforts to victimize others.

This is why we can't have nice things. Fucking feckless Democrat leadership being timid in the face of a fascist takeover 🤦

[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Knowing psychology, almost any PR advisor will advise to temporarily cease media attacks against a person who's been shot.

As a minimum, messages may need to be reworded, because Trump is likely to change his messaging after his narrow escape.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I see what you mean, but to go completely incommunicado is just shooting themselves in the foot and tacitly admitting that "Trump is even worse" is their ONLY strategy to avert what's by now looking like almost inevitable defeat.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

The interesting part: Democrat officials made public statements about going silent for a while, and those statements reached headlines even in Europe. You can go silent and still have your statements in headlines.

Also, as far as money and efficiency are involved - if they save money now, they can advertise more later. Currently, advertising against Trump would have a low efficiency, since he currently receives positive attention. I think their current action plan is "let's wait for Trump to open his mouth".

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 month ago

You can go silent and still have your statements in headlines.

Yeah, but those statements were statements of sympathy and the Dems patting themselves on the back for taking the high road. At best, they won't do anything, but more likely those statements all help Trump.

if they save money now, they can advertise more later

Sounds good in isolation, but the campaign was at the very beginning of an emergency push to claw itself out of a hole with a major PR offensive. They can absolutely NOT afford to take their foot off the gas right now.

Later, they'll just be bailing water from a ship that's already on the bottom of the ocean.

Currently, advertising against Trump would have a low efficiency

Continuing to try to convince people that Biden is capable of doing the job would be just as effective and just as crucial for the survival of the campaign's chances for success as it was yesterday.

I think their current action plan is "let's wait for Trump to open his mouth"

Which is a ridiculously unwise plan. The right wing echo chamber music other for profit yellow press will treat any direct reaction to one of Trump's ridiculous lies and fascist policy statements as a mean bully attacking a poor shooting victim who never harmed anyone.

They were slowly beginning to either fool the country into believing that Biden is capable or picking a replacement but now neither is likely to happen and this will be the last free presidential election.

[–] prole 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

OK, but this isn't PR for a big budget film, this may decide whether we have a future as a republic or not.

Definitely re-worded, but to just stop altogether is foolish and so short-sighted.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Why wouldn't it be smart to go full-on anti gun ownership as a PR response from the Democrats now?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Because you are a reasonable person.

Everytime there is a violent act involving guns and the left says that we need to do something, the right will make excuses. This will not sway a single one of them to think the guns might be the problem.

Gun sales will increase now because liberals are coming to take them.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Republicans have no principles. Democrats have no spine - Professor Alan Lichtman.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago

Yeah, pretty much spot on.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago

ceding the entire field of narrative to Donald Trump

Does anyone else see a great money grift coming on? MAGAs will be sending their entire paycheck.

[–] [email protected] 53 points 1 month ago

This was my literal second thought after I heard what happened.

[–] [email protected] 33 points 1 month ago

This is so bloody unreal. The main suspect was even a registered Republican. All of this according to the FBI.

There was some evidence that the Reichstag was torched by the Nazis as well. I can really do without the irony.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Some notes:

  • almost no doubt: this will have a mobilizing effect for Trump supporters ("our great leader is being attacked", etc)

  • possibly: this will improve Trump's ratings among voters with no clear political preference (a big story where he's not the villain is what he needs)

  • pattern: historically, surviving an assassination attempt has improved a candidate's chances of getting elected; in the most recent example, Slovakia's prime minister Fico enjoyed a boost in ratings while in hospital after being seriously wounded

I don't blame Democrats for temporarily ceasing campaign advertisement. Two principles dictate this: "you don't kick a person who is already down" (Trump was incredibly lucky and isn't) and "you don't attack someone who has martyrdom effect". Generally, you wait until the dust settles. Democrats too will wait until the dust settles. They will also check the popularity ratings and decide how to proceed.

In my opinion, Democrats would strongly benefit from a younger candidate. I would advise getting someone under 55 to run. Among the wider population, not enough people understand that, as things are, the Democratic candidate is Kamala Harris, her name is just currently Joe Biden. :o

Overall, it seems that Trump has considerable chances of getting elected president. Preventing that will require exceptional effort and considerable luck. Only if the Democrats manage to paint a clear picture of what a Trump presidential term would bring about, and only if that picture causes their voters to show up and vote nearly without exception - only then will things turn out differently.

My personal view from Eastern Europe - contingency plans for a Trump presidency ceasing aid to Ukraine have a very high probability of occurrence now (estimated time: early 2025). Over here, everyone and their cat will researching cheap weapons systems to replace things that only the US can provide. I think that group will now include myself.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 month ago

Well, duh! That shooting gave him everything he could have ever dreamed of, including an absolutely perfect photo op.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 month ago

The Biden campaign has already paused all outbound communications and withdrawn their television advertisements, ceding the entire field of narrative to Donald Trump, who will have no compunction about using his status as a victim to advance his efforts to victimize others.

Classic liberals.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 month ago

And to think I had people downvoting and screaming at me in other threads when I pointed out that this would happen.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago (1 children)

This really sucks. If you aren't armed already. The violence ahead will be bad.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 month ago

Meh

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

In an abundance of caution the Biden administration should keep Trump somewhere safe until the election is over.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

There's a spot just a short boat ride southeast of Mar-a-lago...

[–] prole 8 points 1 month ago

The Party of "law and order," folks.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago

Without a doubt they will. And when he wins the election, he will ban guns and take them away. Can’t have a chance of something like this happening again.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Oh good, because the reichstag fire was also perpetuated by the party in question.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

Yeah called this last night too. I guess America was nice well it lasted. I mean I'm still going to fucking vote, but I don't have high expectations.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Lame and totally expected.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

This picture reminds me of the "Sniper Elite" game I played as a kid.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I ain't scared of some rascal riding MAGA supporter.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Ever heard about firearms? Turns out you don't have to be in shape to fire them and one shot can be enough to kill. Maybe want to read up on that.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Right, that's why so many wars have been won by obese elderly people.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

They don't have to win a war to kill you 🙄

[–] [email protected] -2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Uh how are they going to get me after losing a war. You do understand what happens to people that lose wars right?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Judging by your username, some of them are already your neighbors.

That's the thing with a civil war: your enemy isn't only on the battle field.

And in a country with ridiculously lax gun laws and extremely insufficient mental health care system, you could be next to a deranged MAGA cult member and future murderer at any time.

And on that cheery note, I'm gonna go to bed! Have a pleasant day 😁

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Keep beating the drum that they're all fat losers. You have no idea how wrong you are.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

You are fringe minority of a minority. You will absolutely wilt at any real fighting just like you did with the BLM riots. You're only good at coopting the government to do your dirty work.

Only liberals are afraid of these people and it's because they're deeply sympathetic to them.

And yes most of you are overweight aging Boomers.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Boomers are my parents. I doubt there are many 65-80 year old people going to take up arms.

How about the ex-military guy down my street? Young man, in fine shape, flying his Trump flag from the day he moved in. And he has loads of friends, just like him. His neighbor, also young and fit, would join the Red Hats as soon as they became popular enough. As would many of these local boys.

Bought a canteen at a gun show after 01/06. Overheard the guy talking to another attendee. Ex-military, Oath Keeper, literally talking about awaiting a signal. If I wasn't so shocked, had my wits about me, I would have pointed the FBI to him. I invite you to visit a gun show and scope out the crowd, see what we're up against. (Tried to find the vendor list for the show, failed. But I did turn in my neighbor's brothers!)

I'm in a wildly conservative area, military town to boot (heh). These men could easily be rounded up into vigilante groups, especially after the events of yesterday.

You've bought the memes as if they're reality. People post memes of idiots, because they're pictures of idiots. Money says you're surrounded by like minded liberals with no exposure to these people. Or guns.

And what the fuck are you on about assuming I'm a sympathizer? 01/06 gave me low-key PTSD, I'm still not the same. FFS, after yesterday I'm not leaving the house unarmed.

Keep playing like they're not a threat, whatever helps you sleep at night. I'm keeping my AR by the bed, a Colt .45 in my desk and a subcompact in my waistband. When they come knocking, don't give me your shocked Pikachu face.

EDIT: Your username explains much of your position. But hey! You might be safe up there. For a time.

Also, I honestly can't make sense of the rest of your post.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Oh no not the Oath Keepers! Bruh they're a bunch of beer swilling fat LARPers too even if some of them are ex military.

And just because you have military training doesn't make you a good insurgent.

1.) Ex military are trained to fight within a larger army. If you Trumpers really start something you will be 100% on your own.

2.) Most Ex military have a head full of screws loose. The number one way vets die is by suicide. If you think they will be an effective fighting force you are delusional. Many of them got sectioned out for this very reason!

3.) In fighting. You Drumpfters all think your snowflake ideology is the true way. Turns out the shooter was a Republican. This will be amped up 100x of y'all start actually getting desperate.

And so what of your parents are boomers. They're part of the problem. They're most likely reactionaries that are culpable for where we are now.

I am not afraid one iota, anyone that puts in the necessary time to defend themselves shouldn't be either.