I’m really interested in learning more about the MAGA/Putin attraction. This is one of the weirdest of the many weird and paranoid things the right wing embraces. This one totally baffles me.
There's not really anything baffling here. Recall, that his first impeachment was over his withholding of $400M in previously-approved military assistance to Ukraine against Russia.
Moreover, the 2016 GOP platform's language on military support for Ukraine was softened, once DJT was the nominee, at the behest of Paul Manafort - his campaign manager - who was subsequently convicted during the investigation on Russian interference with that election.
The worldview view/moral frame of MAGA and Putin (writ large) is that of the right/fascism vs. the left/progressivism. Those on the political right, favor the strict father figure model -- hence the adoration for the autocrat, dictator.
So, it's not about country/nation-states or patriotism per se, it's about a core, shared value system that gives primacy to the model of the family that is exclusively centered on the power of the patriarch.
Here's an excellent article on this, if you're interested in the cognitive science behind it. George Lakoff has been trying to arm Dems with this insight for two decades almost.
Simon- thanks for sharing the link to the Navigator website. I just looked through a range of their prior work. Some extremely interesting analysis. We need to keep hammering our communications (arguments) on the amazing strength of the US economy under President Biden and the consistent reduction of inflation! The Republicans will continue to damage themselves on the non economic issues - no need for help from Dems there. It's all about the incredible economic performance under Biden in my view!
Simon, thank you for your work. I would love to hear you on some of the center and center right outlets like The Bulwark getting your message out there. There is so much emphasis on Biden’s approval rating. Have a great weekend. Working hard here in Vermont!
Thank you for bringing attention to the Putin issue. I imagine that many of our far-right billionaires envy the Russian oligarchs, and resent the boundaries imposed by American society and government. All they need do is unravel the latter, and the rest of us are toast. The MAGA crowd simply follow directions; they are drawn to chaos.
I don’t want to comment on No Labels except to say that I am sorry to hear that Mark McKinnon is one of their supporters. I always liked his work on Showtime’s The Circus. Wonder what John Heilemann has to say about this.
Like Russia, the US has a serious oligarch problem that is posing a grave threat to our democracy, or what's left of it. This situation has been brought to us by the Supreme Court's rulings (starting in the 1970s with Buckley v Valeo and Bank of Boston v Bellotti on up to the horrible Citizens United decision in 2015), and 40 + years of the GOP's neoliberal economic policies. As Richard Mathes notes below, the billionaires in our country like what they see in Russia and are trying their best to impose an autocracy here as well. We have a major struggle ahead of us, but with determination we can prevail. No Labels is billionaire funded b.s. as is RFK Jr. I don't know what Cornell West thinks he's doing.
Please check out Marc Elias warning us about a monkey -ing ballot initiative in Ohio on August 8, 2023. He feels this attempt to raise the threshold of a ballot initiative from 51% to 60% is Ohio R’s way to subvert likely Roe initiative. And it will likely be replicated elsewhere if it doesn’t get blocked this August.
Hi Natalie, Thanks so much for this article. Very helpful. Last summer I was going on about Eleanor Roosevelt and how inspiring I found her. The woman I was talking with commented, “Oh, you’re a do-gooder.” Now I know what she was referring to. Her comment caught me off guard and I didn’t have a response. This article will help me frame a response going forward. She also said, Ron DeSantis is smart.” I didn’t pursue that one either, but that one could also use a “framed response.” 🙏 again.
George Lakoff IS essential reading. I also recommend the eye-popping “Jesus and John Wayne” (or listen to the author interview on Bulwark podcast). It fully explains why evangelicals overlooked Trump’s moral deficiencies and voted for him.
Happy Friday, Simon. Thank you for the hopium!
I’m really interested in learning more about the MAGA/Putin attraction. This is one of the weirdest of the many weird and paranoid things the right wing embraces. This one totally baffles me.
There's not really anything baffling here. Recall, that his first impeachment was over his withholding of $400M in previously-approved military assistance to Ukraine against Russia.
Moreover, the 2016 GOP platform's language on military support for Ukraine was softened, once DJT was the nominee, at the behest of Paul Manafort - his campaign manager - who was subsequently convicted during the investigation on Russian interference with that election.
The worldview view/moral frame of MAGA and Putin (writ large) is that of the right/fascism vs. the left/progressivism. Those on the political right, favor the strict father figure model -- hence the adoration for the autocrat, dictator.
So, it's not about country/nation-states or patriotism per se, it's about a core, shared value system that gives primacy to the model of the family that is exclusively centered on the power of the patriarch.
Here's an excellent article on this, if you're interested in the cognitive science behind it. George Lakoff has been trying to arm Dems with this insight for two decades almost.
https://medium.com/@ennuid/george-lakoffs-framing-101-7b88e9c91dac
Simon- thanks for sharing the link to the Navigator website. I just looked through a range of their prior work. Some extremely interesting analysis. We need to keep hammering our communications (arguments) on the amazing strength of the US economy under President Biden and the consistent reduction of inflation! The Republicans will continue to damage themselves on the non economic issues - no need for help from Dems there. It's all about the incredible economic performance under Biden in my view!
Simon, thank you for your work. I would love to hear you on some of the center and center right outlets like The Bulwark getting your message out there. There is so much emphasis on Biden’s approval rating. Have a great weekend. Working hard here in Vermont!
Thank you for bringing attention to the Putin issue. I imagine that many of our far-right billionaires envy the Russian oligarchs, and resent the boundaries imposed by American society and government. All they need do is unravel the latter, and the rest of us are toast. The MAGA crowd simply follow directions; they are drawn to chaos.
I don’t want to comment on No Labels except to say that I am sorry to hear that Mark McKinnon is one of their supporters. I always liked his work on Showtime’s The Circus. Wonder what John Heilemann has to say about this.
Like Russia, the US has a serious oligarch problem that is posing a grave threat to our democracy, or what's left of it. This situation has been brought to us by the Supreme Court's rulings (starting in the 1970s with Buckley v Valeo and Bank of Boston v Bellotti on up to the horrible Citizens United decision in 2015), and 40 + years of the GOP's neoliberal economic policies. As Richard Mathes notes below, the billionaires in our country like what they see in Russia and are trying their best to impose an autocracy here as well. We have a major struggle ahead of us, but with determination we can prevail. No Labels is billionaire funded b.s. as is RFK Jr. I don't know what Cornell West thinks he's doing.
Simon and family,
Please check out Marc Elias warning us about a monkey -ing ballot initiative in Ohio on August 8, 2023. He feels this attempt to raise the threshold of a ballot initiative from 51% to 60% is Ohio R’s way to subvert likely Roe initiative. And it will likely be replicated elsewhere if it doesn’t get blocked this August.
Maybe this is our next thing to blitz, Simon???
https://youtu.be/dBb0lw4hZdk
Hi Natalie, Thank you for this link. I will read it tomorrow. 🙏
Hi Natalie, Thanks so much for this article. Very helpful. Last summer I was going on about Eleanor Roosevelt and how inspiring I found her. The woman I was talking with commented, “Oh, you’re a do-gooder.” Now I know what she was referring to. Her comment caught me off guard and I didn’t have a response. This article will help me frame a response going forward. She also said, Ron DeSantis is smart.” I didn’t pursue that one either, but that one could also use a “framed response.” 🙏 again.
George Lakoff IS essential reading. I also recommend the eye-popping “Jesus and John Wayne” (or listen to the author interview on Bulwark podcast). It fully explains why evangelicals overlooked Trump’s moral deficiencies and voted for him.