Trump Is Using a Nixon Tactic to Shore Up Conservative Support in a Crisis

[DonViejo]

By Ed Kilgore

May 16, 2017
11:43 am

As the second self-generated Trump crisis in as many weeks roils the political system, a pattern already evident in the 45th president’s modus operandi is unmistakably dictating his actions: When you screw up, attack those who expose or criticize your misbehavior as part of an organized conspiracy your supporters loathe.

In the earlier incidents involving investigation of possible Russia-Trump campaign collusion, culminating with the Comey firing, and now with Trump’s own apparent disclosure of hypersensitive intelligence to the Russian foreign minister and ambassador, the president’s initial denials of wrongdoing have instantly given way to attacks on the “leakers” and the Trump-hating media who together are creating “fake news,” which seems to be defined as anything the administration doesn’t want to see and hear.

This morning, after spinning his interaction with the Russian diplomats as deliberate, legal, and motivated by humanitarian concerns, Trump quickly shifted to the offensive, linking the two recent crises:

Link to tweet

In other words, the “leaking” of Trump’s questionable conduct with the Russians retroactively justifies Comey’s firing. And the emphasis on leaks, of course, reinforces Team Trump’s bigger and deeper narrative, which it has been promoting off and on since before the inauguration, that a “deep state” of Obama holdovers and sinister intelligence operatives is trying to overturn the 2016 election results and thwart the will of the American people. This, indeed, was the immediate reaction to yesterday’s Washington Post report of a huge security breach by Trump and among pro-Trump conservative media. Breitbart’s headline was illustrative: “Deep State Leaks Highly Classified Info to Washington Post to Smear President Trump.” On Fox, Sean Hannity and company took the same approach:

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http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/05/trump-building-conservative-support-via-anti-anti-trumpism.html

[C_U_L8R]

1. Doesn't seem to be catching on.

The Trumps just look stupid and desperate.

[yallerdawg]

2. From the wording of this tweet...

one could assume Director Comey is still employed and still looking for LEAKERS.

Or one could assume Trump doesn't remember he fired him?

[haele]

3. True, a more coherent and in control adult would have used the past tense.

Especially since English (while admittedly a difficult language in comparison with some other major languages) is supposed to be his native language.
My grand-daughter still had some problems with the intricacies of American English tenses, pro-nouns, and gerunds. But then again, she's five.

Of course, a more coherent and in control adult would never be in the position Drumpf finds himself in.

Haele

[Initech]

4. They will find the leakers the same way OJ found the real killers.

Terrible analogy, I know...