Thomas ZimmerApr 29, 2023

The Party of the Gun

Republicans uniformly embrace the gun cult and will only ever double down on the gun-toting militancy they have made a key element of their political identity.

It’s grotesque.

https://twitter.com/ronfilipkowski/status/1652283410788884480?s=46&t=1xecvNVImNo8TKt3oEvqnA

Ron Filipkowski on Twitter

“Nikki Haley rolls out the mandatory Republican candidate gun photo.”

Twitter
Show threadJake MillerApr 29, 2023
@tzimmer_history Dukakis_Tank.jpg
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Apr 29, 2023
@jakemiller @tzimmer_history I understand the reference, but I don't understand your point in making it.
Show threadJake MillerApr 29, 2023

@tzimmer_history @jik I think we need to start mocking the politicians who wrap themselves in military weapons. They don’t look tough. They look like posers.

None of this is to disagree with the broader points about gun fetishization, but instead to highlight it in politically weakening terms.

Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Apr 30, 2023
@jakemiller @tzimmer_history Ah. The reason why the photo of Dukakis in a tank destroyed him was because he looked ridiculous to Democrats, i.e., his base. Gun photos of Repug politicians don't look ridiculous to their base; on the contrary, they're increasingly table stakes.
At this point the GOP base is completely detached from reality. Mocking their candidates just pushes them deeper into that rabbit hole. It won't work and it won't help. #politics #USPol
Show threadJake Miller
@jik Perhaps. But I think that Low Energy Jeb, and Lil’ Marco (who was very thirsty) might disagree on the impact of mockery with the GOP primary electorate.
Apr 30, 2023 at 2:12amWeb
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Apr 30, 2023
@jakemiller Surely you understand that what Jeb and Rubio were mocked for is qualitatively different from mocking pols for posing with guns when idolizing guns is one of the key wedge issues for their base.
Show threadJake MillerApr 30, 2023
@jik Ok, but that’s why it could really sting. Because with the exception of pols like Crenshaw and a few others, you can hit them for: 1) Looking dorky instead of cool (Haley), 2) Looking like they don’t know what they’re doing with a gun, or 3) being reckless like they don’t know how to responsibly handle a gun. 1 and 3 are largely mutually exclusive. Everyone in the party is pro-gun: Criticize each ppl for doin’ it wrong.
Are there pictures of Trump with an AR? I don’t recall any.
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Apr 30, 2023
@jakemiller I don't know why you think any of that will have a negative impact on their electability, given all the GOP pols who are more popular than ever after posting Christmas photos with everyone in the family down to the toddler brandishing a gun.
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Apr 30, 2023
@jakemiller You seem to be trying to attribute rationality and consistency to these people. That's a mistake.
Show threadJake MillerApr 30, 2023
@jik Their leaders - Trump, Carlson, Murdoch - seem to be able to predict how their audience reacts. They can also lead. The party has shown they love bullying, instrumental to Trump’s 2015 rise. Christie even mocked Rubio out of the race!
They have ways of thinking, and different subgroups do so slightly differently. But I think we need to learn how to communicate with them - and mocking their candidates, esp for weakness, has shown efficacy in the past.