How Did Qanon Believers Respond To Mr Trumps Election Loss
Mr. Trump is the central and heroic figure in QAnons core narrative the brave patriot who was chosen to save America from the global cabal. As a result, most QAnon believers expected that he would easily win re-election, and spend his second term vanquishing the deep state and bringing the satanic pedophiles to justice.
After Mr. Trumps election loss in November, many QAnon believers rallied behind the false theory that the election was stolen from him. Many expected that on Inauguration Day, Mr. Trump would not actually leave office as scheduled but would declare martial law, announce mass arrests of Democrats and stop Mr. Biden from taking office.
When that didnt happen, many QAnon believers grew disillusioned, and some even realized they had been duped. But others continued to believe that The Storm was still approaching, and maintained that Mr. Trump was still planning a triumphant comeback.
A History Of Insult And Outrage
Americas presidents have endured meanness for centuries Grover Cleveland faced chants of “Ma, Ma Wheres my Pa?” in the 1880s over rumors hed fathered an illegitimate child. Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson were the subject of poems that leaned into racist tropes and allegations of bigamy.
“We have a sense of the dignity of the office of president that has consistently been violated to our horror over the course of American history,” said Cal Jillson, a politics expert and professor in the political science department at Southern Methodist University. “We never fail to be horrified by some new outrage.”
There were plenty of old outrages.
“F— Trump” graffiti still marks many an overpass in Washington, D.C. George W. Bush had a shoe thrown in his face. Bill Clinton was criticized with such fervor that his most vocal critics were labeled the “Clinton crazies.”
The biggest difference, though, between the sentiments hurled at the Grover Clevelands of yore and modern politicians is the amplification they get on social media.
“Before the expansion of social media a few years ago, there wasnt an easily accessible public forum to shout your nastiest and darkest public opinions,” said Matthew Delmont, a history professor at Dartmouth College.
Former President Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a rally at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on October 09, 2021 in Des Moines, Iowa. This is Trump’s first rally in Iowa since the 2020 election.
Is Qanon The Same Thing As Pizzagate
Yes and no. QAnon has been described as a big-budget sequel to Pizzagate, because it takes the original Pizzagate conspiracy theory which alleged, falsely, that Mrs. Clinton and her cronies were operating a child sex-trafficking ring out of the basement of a Washington, D.C., pizza restaurant and adds many more layers of narrative on top of it. But many people believe in both theories, and for many QAnon believers, Pizzagate was a kind of gateway to the larger world of right-wing conspiracy theories.
One new element in QAnon is a number of clear and specific predictions about when and how The Storm would play out. For years, Q has predicted that mass arrests of cabal members would occur on certain days, that certain government reports would reveal the cabals misdeeds and that Mr. Trump would coast to a landslide re-election.
None of those predictions came true. But most QAnon believers didnt care. They simply found ways to reframe the narrative and ignore the discrepancies, and moved on.
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What Should Define Pro
The writer is director of MEPIN . He regularly briefs members of Congress and their foreign policy aides, as well White House advisers. He is the senior security editor for The Jerusalem Report/Jerusalem Post, and has written in The Hill, JNS, JTA, RealClearWorld, The Forward, i24, Israel Hayom and Defense News.
Who Believes In Qanon
Its a more diverse group than you might imagine. The earliest adherents were mainly far-right Trump supporters, but in 2020, the movement expanded its reach to include health-conscious yoga moms, anti-lockdown libertarians and evangelical Christians. Unlike the stereotypes of extremist movements, QAnon doesnt appear to be primarily dominated by young men, or people experiencing economic pain. There are Harvard graduates and Wall Street executives who believe in it, as well as people with less elite pedigrees.
QAnon has also developed an international presence, and has been embraced by conspiracy theorists and far-right extremists in countries including the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan.
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An Anarchist Who Revels In Destruction
I would like to offer my reasoning for supporting Trump. I know he would do a pretty terrible job at this point, but I really am at the point of letting the whole thing burn down and explode. Trump would help us get there faster and more efficiently. Like the joker from The Dark Knight, I just want to see the world burn. I guess I am an anarchist in that respect. Once its all burnt down maybe we can have that constitutional convention we really need to fix things and get this country back on track if it still exists. Happy Friday. If you do decide to publish please include the email signature below.
Sent from NSA Monitored Device
Anger At Political Correctness Drives Many Trump Supporters We Talked To But What Does It Really Mean To Them Here Are A Few Answers:
Jeff Henzler, a small businessperson from the Pittsburgh area:
“White people represent many different kinds and creeds, religiously and politically, but yet it seems like every other ethnicity… seems to get a free card to say whatever they want and be completely accepted. But whenever I and many other people that might be sympathetic to the larger group of people say something, automatically it’s racist. It’s hypocritical and it’s wrong.”
Linda Mistovich, who was among those who got in line hours before Trump’s arrival at a private air hangar near the Pittsburgh International Airport:
“The only thing that you’re allowed to tolerate is left issues. They have to be tolerated. If you’re coming from the right it’s hate, it’s bigotry, it’s intolerance. People that come from faith-based values you’re not allowed to have an opinion. Even if you express it nicely and politely and kindly.
“The world has changed and I don’t want my child… she’s be raised in a post-9/11 world. She’s never known pre-9/11. I want my child to know pre-9/11. And the rate we’re going now, it’s never going to happen.”
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They Promote The Military Excessively
What Does It Mean? The defining characteristic of Mussolini’s spending, during his time in power, was a colossal investment in the military might of Italy. But it wasn’t just a militaristic state it was also one that admired the military mindset, of complete obedience, work as a group rather than as individuals, and use of state-sponsored violence. Military coups and heavy support tend to be one of the ways in which fascist states gain and hold onto power, and there are historians who propose that the increased sophistication of warfare in the 20th century, where it became significantly machine-driven, played a distinct role in the self-image of fascist states. The niece of one of the most clear-cut modern fascists, Marine Le Pen of France’s far-right National Front, joined the reserve army in July and declared the army to be “ineffective” without many “young patriots” doing the same. Modern fascism isn’t just about shouting it goes a lot deeper than that.
Does Trump Fit This Definition? Trump’s attitude towards military matters has been garbled and largely unintelligible, but his understanding of military affairs has emerged in various contradictory ways. He does believe in significant military spending and advocates that force would be necessary in various situations , but would also be “slower” to go to war than Clinton. He certainly isn’t campaigning as a solidly military candidate .
A Bernie Sanders Supporter Whod Vote Trump Over Clinton
It is not that Trump supporters necessarily trust Trump to be their champion or that he can be relied upon to deliver better than other politicians. It is the confidence that he cant do worse . In the meantime, his supporters relish the contempt he shows toward the mainstream media and politicians . I am a Bernie Sanders supporter. But if I had to vote for any Republican, it would certainly be Trump. In a face off between Hillary Clinton and Trump, I again would vote Trump. While he might not deliver on his promises, he would certainly be a bull in the China shop of contemporary American politics, which has long needed destroying and rebuilding.
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What Is Npc The Pro
Twitter has barred hundreds of right-wing accounts for posing as soulless, nonplayable liberal activists.
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By Kevin Roose
Last week, a trolling campaign organized by right-wing internet users spilled over onto Twitter. The campaign, which was born in the fever swamps of 4chan and Reddit message boards, involved creating hundreds of fictional personas with gray cartoon avatars, known as NPCs. These accounts posed as liberal activists and were used to spread among other things false information about Novembers midterm elections.
Over the weekend, Twitter responded by suspending about 1,500 accounts associated with the NPC trolling campaign. The accounts violated Twitters rules against intentionally misleading election-related content, according to a person familiar with the companys enforcement process. The person, who would speak only anonymously, was not authorized to discuss the decision.
If youre confused, youre not alone. Here, we try to unpack the NPC meme, what it means and why its causing trouble on Twitter.
What Does This Have To Do With Politics
Several months ago, users on 4chan and Reddit, the online message forums, started using the term NPC to refer to liberals. These people, they said, join the anti-Trump crowd not because they are led by independent thought or conscience to oppose President Trumps policies, but because theyre brainwashed sheep who have been conditioned to parrot left-wing orthodoxy, in the manner of a scripted character.
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The Ukraine War Cuts Many Ways
While most of those I encountered had relatively clear views about domestic issues, the Ukraine War was another matter. That conflict perplexes many in the heartland because they are not sure what it means for America or how it affects them personally. I didnt encounter anyone who had a positive view of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Everyone sees him as a thug who terrorizes his own people and destabilizes global affairs. But they are not sure how the war will play out and what US involvement means for their lives.
In the short-run, the Ukrainian conflict has been a boon to American farmers. With Ukraine grain blocked from the world market by Russia, grain prices have gone way up. Although American grocery shoppers are paying higher prices, US farmers are selling their stored wheat and corn at record levels. Of course, they recognize some of their financial gains are being lost at the grocery store and gas pumps, and through higher inflation on a wide range of farm costs. But U.S. agriculture is doing well due to grain supply restrictions.
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Why Trump Said He Did Nothing Wrong: No Quid Pro Quo
Trump has repeatedly labeled the Ukraine call as “perfect”, saying there is clearly no direct evidence of wrongdoing, bring back his accusation of being the victim of a “witch hunt”. He also points out that Zelensky has said he never felt pressured.
Republicans are combating the narrative by pointing to the testimony of Kurt Volker, the former U.S. special envoy for Ukraine who told lawmakers that he had never seen any proof that the president withheld a White House meeting with Ukraines president until the country launched investigations helpful to him politically, and personally didn’t see a quid pro quo.
For the White House, on top of reiterating the lack of a quid pro quo, Trump tweeted that False stories are being reported that a few Republican Senators are saying that President Trump may have done a quid pro quo, but it doesnt matter, there is nothing wrong with that, it is not an impeachable event. Perhaps so, but read the transcript, there is no quid pro quo! referring to Washington Post reporting that GOP Senators might acknowledge a quid pro quo, but argue that it is not illegal unless there is corrupt intent.
Trend Towards Illiberal Democracy
Trumpism has been likened to Machiavellianism and to Benito Mussolini‘s Italian Fascism.
American historian Robert Paxton poses the question as to whether the democratic backsliding evident in Trumpism is fascism or not. As of 2017, Paxton believed it bore greater resemblance to plutocracy, a government which is controlled by a wealthy elite. Paxton changed his opinion following the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, and stated that it is “not just acceptable but necessary” to understand Trumpism as a form of fascism.Sociology professor Dylan John Riley calls Trumpism “neo-Bonapartistpatrimonialism” because it does not capture the same mass movement appeal of classical fascism to be fascism.
In How to Lose a Country: The 7 Steps from Democracy to Dictatorship, Turkish author Ece Temelkuran describes Trumpism as echoing a number of views and tactics which were expressed and used by the Turkish politician Recep Tayyip ErdoÄan during his rise to power. Some of these tactics and views are right-wing populism, demonization of the press, subversion of well-established and proven facts through the big lie , democratic backsliding such as dismantling judicial and political mechanisms portraying systematic issues such as sexism or racism as isolated incidents, and crafting an ideal citizen.
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Where Did It All Start
In October 2017, an anonymous user put a series of posts on the message board 4chan. The user signed off as “Q” and claimed to have a level of US security approval known as “Q clearance”.
These messages became known as “Q drops” or “breadcrumbs”, often written in cryptic language peppered with slogans, pledges and pro-Trump themes.
Quid Pro Quo: What It Means
Quid pro quo: A Latin term meaning something for something.
Its come up this week in connection to President Donald Trumps July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to a White House transcript of the call, Trump asked for a favor help from Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, a 2020 contender.
The quid pro quo is in the Presidents words, Democratic Rep. John Garamendi of California argued on CNNs New Day Friday, telling John Berman that Trumps phone call with Zelensky makes it very clear.
CNN has confirmed that Trump ordered a hold on millions in military aid to Ukraine roughly one week before the call with Zelensky, which was first reported by The Washington Post. Trump claimed he withheld the aid because he was waiting for European nations to contribute their fair share and that the delay wasnt related to the investigation request.
That together with withholding the funds, which preceded the phone call. All of these things are there. And thats not circumstantial, Garamendi said.
CNN chief legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin argued on CNN Wednesday that theres very strong evidence that there was a quid pro quo here in Trumps phone call.
Toobin pointed to the section of the White House transcript in which Zelensky mentioned that Ukraine was ready to buy more Javelin missiles from the US. Trump replied, I would like you to do us a favor.
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Desperate People Cast Desperate Votes
It really isnt about Donald Trump. Its about the fact that many thought and believed President Obama was the change that they wanted in 2008. We still trusted him in 2012. All of that hope has died. This administration keeps telling everyone that things are better, but the middle class now knows that isnt quite true. Wall Street, the banks, and even illegal immigrants seem to be prospering more than the average American citizen. We are desperate. Desperate people do desperate things.
Why Is It Called The Storm
Its a reference to a cryptic remark Mr. Trump made during an October 2017 photo op. Posing alongside military generals, Mr. Trump said, You guys know what this represents? Maybe its the calm before the storm.
QAnon believers pointed to this moment as proof that Mr. Trump was sending coded messages about his plans to break up the global cabal.
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