Impeachment trial:

[cilla4progress]

Relieved to see house managers bringing up drumpf's 2015 incitements to violence at his rallies.

This has been PROGRAMMING of long duration.

He didn't NEED to tell the Jan. 6 rioters what his expectations were; he'd been grooming them since at least 2015.

In fact, I believe this is the strategy: plausible deniability. That is, some reptilian, sociopathic, narcissistic awareness of the danger TO HIMSELF in usinh incendiary words of physical violence immediately precipitory to the 1/6 attack. He didn't need to. Like Michael Cohen said .... his supporters and sycophants know what he means. Why? He'd been grooming them, programming them, for years ...

[Irish_Dem]

1. Isn't this how a mob boss operates?

Incites criminal activity but keeps his hands clean?

[cilla4progress]

2. I'm expect those in the know

would certain assent to this.

Recall...Michael Cohen's explanation ...

[Irish_Dem]

3. Yes Michael Cohen would agree. He spent time in jail for Trump.

While Trump skated.

[Backseat Driver]

4. Could we perhaps call it, his onetime friend of a friend, the "I'm Ghisllaine" defense!

A rape of anyone/any value (like democracy) is always about planned violence.

[Mike 03]

5. I wonder if authoritarians intentionally (or by some flaw in their psychology) use a

form of hostile anchoring (or Neuro-Linguistic Programming).

Anchors developed as a product of Pavlov’s concept of stimulus response. Anchors define the triggers for states and behavior. You can learn how to establish triggers for selected responses that are desired both in yourself and others. In clinical practice, both the theoretical underpinnings and practice directions need to be considered and utilized to their fullest. The connection of cognitive approaches to learning experiences allows anchoring to be used in multiple situations. The use of an anchor can be ‘instantaneous’. However reinforcement through repetition is usually necessary. Intensity may allow an effective anchor to be placed once. This fact should raise clinical questions about what is being anchored in highly emotion charged situations.

The notion of ‘anchoring’ emerged in NeuroLinguistic Programming [NLP] when Bandler and Grinder were first modeling the hypnotic techniques of Milton Erickson. Erickson often used or suggested particular cues as post-hypnotic triggers to help a person change his or her internal state or re-access a hypnotic trance. Grinder and Bandler generalized the use of these cues and triggers to include other types of internal processes, without the need of initially establishing a hypnotic state. By 1976 the first NLP anchoring techniques were developed.

https://cognitivebehaviormanagement.com/practice-tools-techniques/technique-30-anchoring/#:~:text=The%20process%20of%20establishing%20an,to%20strengthen%20anchors%20as%20well.

Listening to those clips from Trump rallies, and considering (as you point out) the extreme repetition, linking of words to feelings of rage ("fight", and the idea something has been "stolen" from them ) almost does come across as programming. Anchors are traditionally a positive thing, when we anchor ourselves, but can someone else anchor us to something negative?

[cilla4progress]

6. I completely agree.

I think it would be powerful if the managers would use the word "grooming," or "programming." It would show that drumpf created this dynamic. Not only that he took advantage of it, and ultimately incited the 1/6 violence, terror and murder.

[BeerBarrelPolka]

7. What is wrong with me?

This is a serious question. What is wrong with me that even though I feel the Democratic team is bringing up great points, I cannot get excited because I know the repubs will acquit Trump. It's like I'm watching a mystery movie but I already know who did it!

[cilla4progress]

8. Here's my view (stated elsewhere on this site) -

I think even the Dems / House Managers acknowledge what you say.

BUT: it's worth the effort to 1) document for history; 2) educate, inform, solidify with the public; 3) on ethical grounds - god's sake, people DIED in the insurrection - including LE; 4) last but far from least: THE REPUBLICANS WHO VOTE TO ACQUIT WILL FOREVER BEAR THE STAIN. They need to be shamed and their supporters tagged, shunned, and forever tarnished. This hearing is the predicate, basis for that.

I also think this is cathartic for the Members, and I think they feel they owe it to their staff, and to all Capitol employees.

It's the right thing to do, and worth it.

Hopefully it will have some impact going forward - it not to convict drumpf.

What do you think?

[BeerBarrelPolka]

9. Nice

All valid points. No way can I debate it.

[cilla4progress]

11. Something I just saw on Twitter,

from the esteemed Dan Goldman about this issue.

Link to tweet

?s=20

[BeerBarrelPolka]

12. Yes

And the civilized world will see the repubs do not. So in that sense, it's a good thing.

[crickets]

10. K&R for the post and the discussion.