I’ve been loving this whole calling Republicans “weird” thing. It’s as if Democrats have finally cracked the code, or figured out how to take the lead in the Republican game of Calvinball.
Calling Trump and the ilk out will be rebutted as exaggerated, doesn’t mean it, all politicians are part of the same corrupt system, etc. etc.
Disengaging with the namecalling and running on policy alone, while a noble strategy, gives all the attention to the Trumpists who get a free microphone to say whatever the fuck they want and media can’t help themselves but run with their lies.
Now we’ve got the Democrats playing their game but without fully stooping to their level. Using a word to specifically insult Trump his ego and their authoritarian platform, yet is relatively benign in itself (there a lot of good kinds of weirds, but none of them are applicable to Trump and friends). It’s a calm gateway to say, “Both sides are NOT the same, pay attention to what’s actually being said!”, and get people to put aside the horserace framing and consider the real and dangerous consequences of another Trump term.
Republicans are panicking big-time and trying page after page of their playbook, to little effect against this new strategy.
- “No u”? flip
- “Where’s your decooooooruuuuum?” flip
- “Wha- wha- Whatabout pronouns and immigrants!?!??” flip
None of it’s working. The Democrats are cheating!!! Only we’re allowed to cheat!!!
Remember when George W Bush was quoted at Trump’s inauguration speech as saying “that was some weird shit”?
This is all according to some prophecy.
