Listening to On Point and an interview with co-authors on a book about democracy. One of them talked about Trump as “the great persuader” and it was very enlightening. He ended by saying that this sub-literate whose only guide is Hitler’s speeches could be the greatest persuader in history is too bitter to contemplate.
Americans believe in exceptionalism, that nothing like what happened to other nations can happen to us. Yet it is happening right now. Right before my eyes. And it is bitter.
“The internet allows the angriest among us to interact, and actually reinforce each other.”
The Paradox of Democracy: Free Speech, Open Media, and Perilous Persuasion by Zac Gershberg (Author), Sean Illing (Author)
“Democracy as an act of persuasion.”
https://www.wbur.org/radio/programs/onpoint
And in another article citing another book:
“As an exercise, try thinking “Party of Lincoln” (or Reagan) as you recite aloud this partial list of post-1994 GOP leaders, grandees, enablers and influencers: Gingrich, Kenneth Starr, Roger Ailes, Rush Limbaugh, Ralph Reed, Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, Lee Atwater, Andrew Breitbart, Ann Coulter, Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, Karl Rove, Tucker Carlson, Rupert Murdoch, Jack Abramoff, Michael Flynn, Jim Jordan, Steve Bannon, Kevin McCarthy, Ted Cruz, Mark Meadows, John Eastman, Jeffrey Clark, Rudy Giuliani, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Madison Cawthorn, Josh Hawley, Lindsey Graham, Mo Brooks, Ron Johnson, Lauren Boebert, Elise Stefanik and the 147 members of Congress who on Jan. 6, 2021, voted not to certify Biden’s election, hours after the Capitol was attacked by an insurrectionary mob. Got an ashy taste in your mouth?
The baton that Reagan passed to a new generation became a truncheon in Gingrich’s hands. For those scratching their heads and moaning, “How did this happen?” Milbank has the answer. It all began with the honorable gentleman from Georgia.”
Ice on the Moon 