The Man Behind The Curtain

Vladimir Putin is particularly expert at exploiting the vulnerabilities, hypocrisies, and mistakes of his opponents, David Remnick writes—and one of his high cards is the destabilization of democracy abroad, particularly in the United States.https://t.co/43nD12OcpH

— The New Yorker (@NewYorker) March 3, 2022

I question this narrative now. Causing trouble in democracies, and sewing discord? Yes, certainly. Actually destabilizing? Then explain the strength of Ukrainian resistance. The rise of President Valensky. The strength of the international coalition of democracies against Russia. The interest of Sweden and Finland in joining NATO, and more directly, opposing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The unity of even American politics on the issue of the invastion. The evidence is Putin has run up against the strength of democracy, not found its Achilles heel.

The greatest danger to democracy is not Putin; it’s the pundits who don’t understand democracy, but only understand stability. Stability which they define as the status quo never changing, even if that status quo is the grasping for power the GOP has been publicly pursuing since at least Newt Gingrich was elected to the House. What’s been happening in American politics has been happening since Jules Verne described a riot in a midwestern American town that was actually a political campaign for dog catcher. Or more historically, the third campaign for President between Jefferson and Adams. Was democracy undermined then?  What's been happening recently is little different from the ward heelers and the "bosses" who ran government for their own ends and benefits.  Democracy as a government open to all is a lovely idea that we only tried to put into practice as of 1965; and our Supreme Court gutted that like a fish within 50 years.  Are our pundits worried about that?  Concerned?  Even noticing it?  And yet the fight goes on.

On the domestic side, Trump directly attacked the functions of government. For his trouble he’s under Congressional, state, and federal investigation. Everyone involved in that riot has been/is being prosecuted, and one person has pled guilty to seditious conspiracy. What part of American democracy has been fatally destabilized? Or destabilized at all?

Democracy is proving its strength, and Putin is proving his weakness. The fact is, most of these hand wringers over the state of democracy fear the chaos of democracy, especially American democracy. Putin was fooled as fully as they were. He thought Trump had mortally wounded democracy in America, and that NATO was ready to shatter like glass. And yet the only countries standing with Russia are not democracies either. And there are only five of them.

And people from democracies around the world are supporting Ukraine, from government support to individual volunteers. Did democracy rise from the ashes in an instant? Or was it always stronger than Putin and Trump and the pundits understood? Especially now that the curtain has been pulled back on “the great and powerful Oz.”

LOL https://t.co/Tr7meRiKAx

— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) March 3, 2022