RM

#yearofrick

[Joe Trippi @JoeTrippi]

Make America's Shadow Go Away - Make Your Vote Shine. Spread this one far and wide.

[Rick Steves @RickSteves]

Many don’t realize that the first people Hitler sent to his concentration camps weren’t everyday Jewish citizens, but his political opponents. So, when Trump rants about retribution, locking up his opponents, and giving them “very long sentences,” I can’t help but take him seriously… because history teaches us that is what fascist dictators do during their “Day One” period to consolidate their power. (After all, if you’re hellbent on staying in power but aren’t likely to win the next election, you can’t have your political opponents running around free.)

To keep fascism out of our lives, vote for democracy!

[RM @SeattleRick]

@OzzyOsbourne Pay the man. It’s the right thing to do.

[RM @SeattleRick]

@SoundersFC @FIFACWC I’m sure you guys will try “moneyball” this too.

[RM @SeattleRick]

@Marquis_DeGraal @doomedparade Me too. Made it through a few Venom songs. Metallica very clearly ruled the day.

[RM @SeattleRick]

@bedirthan Have to pay for all those big money signings…..wait.

[RM @SeattleRick]

@HutchinsMatt @bedirthan This is the answer.

[RM @SeattleRick]

@allabouttroy @politico First name Joe?

[RM @SeattleRick]

@natalie_allison Bullshit

[RM @SeattleRick]

@Olivianuzzi @NYMag Bullshit

[RM @SeattleRick]

@kairyssdal Nope

[RM @SeattleRick]

@KenDilanianNBC Bullshit

[RM @SeattleRick]

@BrianMannADK Bullshit.

[RM @SeattleRick]

@WeAreSinclair Bullshit

[Trygve Olson @trygveolson]

Given the insanity of the news cycle, today seems like a good one to remind every one of the Seven Rules for confronting Autocrats and their Enablers.

Seven Rules for Dealing with Autocrats and their enablers.

I wrote these when working with those worldwide fighting for Democracy in their nations, and they are just as applicable today with what we face in America in the coming months.

- Rule #1: Play the Game You Are in, Not the One You Wish or Want to Play - This means when one side is playing the zero-sum, illiberal game, there is no win-win to be played. You will either win, and democracy survives, or you lose to the autocratic forces.

- Rule #2: Always Speak Truth to Power Because You Never Know the Tipping Point - You must confront the Big Lies of illiberal forces by speaking truth to their base of power -- the people. There is a tipping point where your Truth or the Big Lies prevail.

- Rule #3: Don't Hand the Autocrats Battering Rams with Which to Beat You - The game you are in, the battle you are fighting, isn't about policy or ideology. They will use what you say to divide you from your allies, who you need to win the battle for democracy.

- Rule #4: Understand Authoritarians Must Live in a Truth-Free Present - The past presents truths about the big lies and fear the illiberal forces use. The future for autocratic forces only matters for maintaining power at the moment. They only care about keeping/gaining power.

- Rule #5: Practice Zero-Sum Judo - Use their tactics against them -- Big Truths, Marginalization, make them dependent, mock the disinformation, divide and conquer their power structure. Use their desire for the legitimacy of democracy against them.

- Rule #6: The Stalin Rule: Stand Together with Anyone Who Will Join You to Disturb, Disrupt, and Diminish the Illiberal Structures. Even if you share nothing in common beyond a love of democracy and how much you loathe their politics in normal times, you fight side-by-side with them.

- Rule #7: Wake Up Every Day Thinking Where Can the Vertical Power Structure Be Exposed, Confronted, and Destabilized - Each of us and all of us on Team Democracy must wake up every day and ask what can I do to be on the side of restoring faith and confront the fear they use.

Ultimately, I am an optimist. When the fear of the illiberal autocrat erodes because people show they are not afraid, faith takes hold, and others want and will join the fight. It is one we must win in America. It is one we will win because more Americans stand for Democracy that has made us great than the Autocrat who is constantly tearing us apart and down.

[RM @SeattleRick]

@doomedparade Jimmy Bowers on drums.🤘🏼

[RM @SeattleRick]

@doomedparade I was there. Blew my mind.🤘🏼

[RM @SeattleRick]

@ryandic We’ve got a big record in Belgium

[RM @SeattleRick]

@lambofgod Undertow, King Me