While this piece is more reasonable and nuanced than most of the five-alarm-fire "Russiagate" calls-to-arms, it's still based on a host of ill-founded presumptions. I'll respond to a few in this threadhttp://theweek.com/articles/785934/why-left-needs-wise-growing-trumprussia-scandal …
-
-
Trump's attitude toward Putin is firmly in line with the traditions of American statecraft, for good or ill. Saying nice things to world leaders while in their presence is simply not abnormal in the least. Trump just adds a "Trumpian flare," and people freak the F out
Show this thread -
That fundamental analytical flaw is worth underscoring, because it shows the entire storyline to be premised on a confabulation -- this "weird affinity" narrative. There's simply not sufficient evidence to conclude that Trump is a "cat's paw" for Putinpic.twitter.com/tUdxXCbeNj
Show this thread -
...especially when Trump has taken action after action directly *contrary* to Putin's interests. (We could go through the list: Ukraine, Syria, etc.) But that, of course, gets ignored, in favor of this superficial amateur psycho-analysis which modern punditry is so dominated by
Show this thread -
Some on "the left" want to imagine that it's possible to accept the main premises of Russiagate, but with some critical distance, in such a way that will advance socialism. But take this one example of a premise that's been accepted. Has "democracy" really been "sacrificed"?pic.twitter.com/NMR8xwcEhL
Show this thread -
The notion that "Russian interference" has caused the death of American democracy is the exactly the kind of overblown nonsense which is central to Russiagate. To accept it is it to accept the core premises which underlie the entire overblown narrative
Show this thread -
In short, you can't really pick and choose elements of the narrative which seem politically felicitous. At the narrative's very base are inescapable, noxious ideological assumptions. The idea that bringing those assumptions into the mainstream could benefit 'The Left' is fanciful
Show this thread -
Fundamentally, "Russiagate" encourages a warped conception of how modern politics is constituted -- elevating fictitious enemies, christening fictitious heroes, sewing paranoia. Pretending that such a state of affairs is ever going to produce fruitful politics seems deluded
Show this thread -
Is it an important issue? Well, it's dominated the public consciousness for 2+ years, so on that level it's "important." But it's also been extremely harmful, in ways that one Twitter thread could never encapsulate. Anyway, this debate is necessary, and it shall (sigh) continue
Show this thread
End of conversation
New conversation -
-
-
And of those names, only in the case of Netanyahu does he match his joviality at the personal level with actions that could remotely suggest his being in the other person's hands
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
-
-
-
Nope. No bonding with democratic leaders. Only despots, killers, and Kings.
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
-
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.