The administration's clown-show is a diversion, from thievery, insurrection and Epstein.
Don't fall for it
TAT readers,
Today is my first essay after a week off, and my apologies for being AWOL. I’m wrapped up in a variety of publishing chores and tasks, plus I have allowed a bit of relaxed summer writing to occupy my time. Raised to believe that there’s always something that needs doing, “stopping and smelling the roses” occasionally, hasn’t always come easy. I suppose typing madly for my next book isn’t necessarily work when one’s work is their passion, but finding ways to enjoy the experience as something other than work, is invigorating. Being “invigorated” these days when we’re all exhausted fighting to retain our constitutional republic, is a blessing. I will gladly take invigoration anywhere I can find it. We fight on.
As I write this, our republic isn’t only being dismantled by the cold, calculating intentions of Project 2025, but by such a cast of bumbling actors, ne’er-do-well freaks, villains and snake-oil salesmen, that any organization would fail. Yes, we are failing and at an ever-quickening pace. This makes our efforts to keep the ship of state afloat, even more daunting. What we are experiencing in military terms, is a “two-front war.“ One against the diversionary and grotesque incompetence of the administration itself, and secondly, maintaining a strong offense against what they attempt to divert our attention from, the lawless, authoritarian assault on our very constitution.
Across every government agency, there is paralyzing uncertainty in government workers’ workplaces, fear of job loss, hesitancy in executing their agency’s mission and even worse, not even sure any longer, what the mission actually is. We all pay for this in increasingly poorer service. This isn’t because civil servants don’t work hard for us, it’s because there are just far fewer of them now. Phone wait times are quite often horrendous, programs abandoned and services more limited. It only gets worse from here.
In order to keep us from being focused on our federal workforce being randomly decimated, the Republican circus rolls in, right on time, sucking all of the oxygen out of the room. The mainstream press and many so-called influencers and pundits, then scamper off to the clown tent, covering the diversion in-depth, while the pickpocketing and treason go on, unabated and unreported on.
You must admit, the elite levels of clown behavior from the likes of Hegseth, Noem, Bessent, Miller, Gabbard, Radcliffe, McMahon, ICE etc., are beyond any scripting. They are easy distractions but then again, from an influence operator’s point of view, I see their diversions as cover for other acts of betrayal. Such acts, as those written into the fine print of nefarious legislation, DOJ edicts, policy changes reinforcing White Christian Nationalist ideology across the Federal government, including deadly program cancellations, unconstitutional new laws, inflation, etc. All of these actions taken while that we are self-absorbed with culture wars and clown-show provocation. We don’t have to take the bait.
When the GOP clown-show provocations are distracting, reach for your wallet, because this administration has their hand on it. When it’s over the top distracting, bad news is likely heading our way and when it’s over the top, even for this crazy administration, they’re afraid. To this point, look no further than the now vanishing case of the Epstein files. Just a couple of weeks ago, at the height of their self-inflicted Epstein fiasco, the resistance literally ran the GOP out of Washington. They are still running, hiding and praying for a miracle, that the opposition remained clueless about fighting back. Part of their prayers have already been answered. The DNC and combined opposition, don’t know how to “play the game.”
Today, Congress returns to session, and what has the DNC organized to go after the Epstein issue? Who has provided the press with any and all tips to dredge up interest? Are we all writing letters to our local papers and demanding that local congressmen get to the bottom of this MAGA GOP’s, Achilles Heel?" Where are the newsletters and talking points about the Epstein affairs, from congressmen to their constituents? Understandably, these are rhetorical questions, because no one is driving the resistance bus.
So yes, it is easy to go after Cabinet members like like Cosplay Barbie, a.k.a. Kristi Noem when they do things like lose their purse, gun, thousands of dollars and her security badge while out to dinner? It’s even exhilarating to drive a drunk like Pete Hegseth crazy for organizing, Signal calls for something that should have been handled in the bowels of the Pentagon or the Situation Room. Does it do a great deal of good in the long run, probably not. Still, some scathing criticism is warranted. The attention belongs less on the daily, very-public clown acts, than on what is going on behind the scenes to rob us of our rights, hard-earned paychecks and our veritable national security.
I’m often asked, “so I get it but what do I do about it?” Great question and the right question. It is precisely that simple. I have advocated for months now to to do just three things and I continue to stand by them. I have added a thing or two along the way, depending on the situation but these three pillars remain the core.
Take the fight directly to the home offices of Republican congressmen and drag your local media along with them.
Never make this a partisan political party fight.
Find a leader like USN ADM (R) William McRaven or a similar experienced, decisively successful leader, to head a party of constitutional Americans, not of just Democrats.
In other words, the the overwhelming majority of the movement may be Democrats, but also and often includes others. Think of this as the Democratic Party underwriting the restoration of the American Republic, after the attempted dismantling by GOP authoritarians.
Of course, I do understand that attempting the above, is easier said than done, but it is the core of a strategy in just a few words, and one that everyone can understand and contribute to, in many forms. In the absence of leadership and more specific tasks from a party, at least these three recommendations, will help keep us marching in the same direction.
I write these short insights into fighting back against the sustaining propaganda of the current regime, for two reasons and two only. First, I write to teach others how to fight back and two, to inform newcomers to the “why” that we fight back. The point of such knowledge is to put it to work in service of our goals. I also share because I know from first-hand experience, that they work. Every campaign must have their own core framing of a situation. In other words, clearly see the playing field. At the moment, the following points are what I see and in the most basic terms. They are largely positive for the resistance, if we listen, heed and execute the tactics with energy.
The administration is not nearly as secure in their hold on the federal government as they wish us to believe. More aggressive police actions and continued ICE thuggery, are in their minds, a message to us to be afraid. It’s not working
There is a massive reserve of popular support for stopping this administration.
There are far more of us than there are of the voting MAGA GOP crowd. Hence, even more redistricting in deep red, Texas
If they already held the power that they wish us to believe, they wouldn’t bother to be so aggressively suppressing voting rights access, redistricting, limiting media, intimidating those who oppose them, etc.
They know that at the moment, well organized and surgically led opposition campaigning, would stop their out-of-control-train-wreck of insurrection. When that happens, there will be hell to pay. This makes them very vulnerable.
Try and use these little reality checks to keep you on track as you work with others to resist. I will try and offer them from time to time here but please, learn to do your own as well.
To wrap up this short essay, I offer this reminder:
Essays like today’s are grounded in a lifetime of my personal and professional experiences. My insights into influence campaigns come from operating at an elite level and for a very long time. My point here isn't to simply beat up the DNC, but to also show what’s wrong and how to fix it. After all, we need them to step up in a meaningful way and to do it… right now.
I try to point out weaknesses and opportunities, based on how I see things. I also point out threats. At the moment, our biggest threat is in inaction, poorly thought-out actions and going in too many different directions aimlessly.
We can do this, if we all do a little bit of the lifting. If my insights help us see the bigger picture, then I feel as if I am also productively joining in everyone’s fight for the common good. That’s also why it is an honor, to be invited into your lives via social media, email and otherwise. We’re all connected and affected by the actions of the administration. Our unity is our strength and precisely what terrifies the administration and their voters. I am honored to be among such prestigious company. We will prevail.
My kindest regards and thank you for your patience,
Paul
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