We Need to Adjust Our Thinking

Further to the idea that many folks—in the corporate media, in politics, and outside of these institutions—are still using old thinking to process the Trump administration, I tweetstormed last night about this concept with regard to "checks and balances," and how so many people still expect "checks and balances" to stop the most egregious abuses of Trump and his cadre of vandals.

In case you missed it, and/or for discussion in this space, here is that tweetstorm in full:

As a reminder, Conway has been saying for over a month that Trump will replace IC with "his own people." Today was hardly the first time.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) January 22, 2017

As @leahmcelrath noted earlier today, she, @sarahkendzior, and I have been sounding this alarm. Loudly. https://t.co/NFZJcdMzsw

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) January 22, 2017

Who will be running the security clearances now? We can't count on the old norms to protect us. That is critical to understand. https://t.co/db3Dhg627R

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) January 22, 2017

Many of us have a false sense of security in "checks and balances." They aren't immutable; they have been enforced by people making choices.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) January 22, 2017

"Checks and balances" are norms established & maintained by patriots who are in agreement about their necessity & make choices accordingly.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) January 23, 2017

These patriots have not always agreed on lots and lots of other things, but they have agreed on a number of "checks and balances."

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) January 23, 2017

So much so that we take for granted those "checks and balances" will always exist. But they are continent on good faith power brokers.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) January 23, 2017

[*contingent]

We all must reckon with, and quickly, that the Trump-Pence administration are not good faith power brokers. They want to upend norms.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) January 23, 2017

We cannot trust them. Democratic institutions are only as strong as the people who maintain them.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) January 23, 2017

We cannot operate as though good governance happens by magic. It does not. Stewardship is the product of human choices, every day.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) January 23, 2017

Trump is explicitly hostile to the established norms of good (if imperfect) governance. He wants to turn all the norms on their heads.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) January 23, 2017

Authoritarians thrive in chaos. In fact, they create chaos in order to assert themselves as uniquely capable of saving you from that chaos.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) January 23, 2017

And they have no interest in norms, except insomuch as they want to destroy them.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) January 23, 2017

So we cannot trust any regulations under the purview of the president, b/c they'll be subverted. Including all regulatory checks & balances.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) January 23, 2017

The things you trusted to stop abuses of power will be demolished. That is why vigilance and engagement are so important.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) January 23, 2017

We are the only checks and balances now.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) January 23, 2017