An ABC for Ukraine, Russia, and the Right Wing in America

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is dominating the news and birthing memorable cultural material that will endure. People will be citing the heroic goodbye from Snake Island (Russian warship, go fuck yourself!) and the old woman handing out sunflower seeds will stick for a long time. Today, I wrote a long Twitter thread with some thoughts that had struck me in looking at an old project. I’m not correcting the pithy 280 character style: this is the thread pretty much, with the images I posted with it.

Two years ago I created an unusual ABC book w/ @scottygerk. [A is for Autocrat, Spartan Holiday Books, 2020.] It used the format to make moral arguments. Themes + events this weekend (Kyiv besieged, CPAC, 10 years since Trayvon Martin died) have called the book to mind. Using it to process things. Details posted throughout. 1/16

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine with horror, even as I’ve been inspired by the bravery of President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people. The war, which may yet spread, is casting light on the last 6 or 7 years: the moral rot of Trumpism, Republican cowardice. Seeing these pages in a fresh way. A moral iconography.  2/16

Truth and falsehood aren’t just words. The terrifying concreteness of what’s happening drives it home. Javelin anti-tank weapons—for a time, held back by DJT to extort Zelensky (unsuccessfully)—are being used by Ukrainians to disable armored vehicles as the Russians haltingly advance. 3/16

On the spread with U is V for Vampire in the dread person of Stephen Miller. The image has only grown more correct: apparatchiks like Miller embody a death of spirit, in dramatic contrast to the people of Kyiv, facing physical death with honor and courage. 4/16

W is for Women. Throughout the the past 6 years and during DJT’s first impeachment trial, he was capably countered and opposed by women: notably Marie Yovanovitch (then-ambassador to Ukraine, pictured) and Fiona Hill. 5/16 

The puppet master Putin, now increasingly isolated, only days ago was hailed (yet again) by DJT as “savvy” and “a genius.” Classically Trumpian compliments: morally neutral. Not “good,” or “decent.” Empty lovers of power, these two have been dually exposed—Trump as an instrumentalist, Putin as a neo-imperial lunatic  6/16

Lurking behind everything in the Trump years was a culture of self-dealing. C was, is, and every shall be for corruption 2016-2020. Beware a reprise: The pollution remains on display in what was once called “conservatism” in Orlando this weekend. 7/16

The “swamp” will be cleaned! Beware fake news! The dishonesty was and remains boundless, the disinformation nonstop. Lavrov and Putin lie continuously, as do Rs. May these merchants of fakery be shamed by truth. Kudos to President Biden for his transparency with intel, which has helped to isolate Putin. 8/16

Ukrainian bravery miniaturizes the Republicans who have cravenly attended to the bottomless needs of Donald Trump. Lackeys like Senator Cruz. Contrast the valor of Zelensky with the cowardice of Cruz, despite the inverse stakes! 9/16

B does double duty. The courage of Colin Kaepernick’s convictions got him drummed out of the NFL for kneeling in silent protest. He has persisted, only just announcing a fund to provide 2nd-opinion autopsies in police related deaths. Other convictions: Abery’s killers, just last Tuesday. 10/16

Calling all would-be kings, despots, and insecure needbags: N is for Nero. As for your accomplices: O is for Odious. 11/16

Speaking of odious, the assembly of bigots and xenophobes at CPAC in Orlando truly beggars belief. Fealty to Putin is a form of scarcely concealed white nationalism, with targets at home and “at the [southern] border.” Let’s hope that the reputational collapse of Putin takes a few with him. 12/16

The antidote: P is for Pluralism, the future of multiracial democracy. The cramped ethnostate on implicit offer from today’s Republicans, cynically abetted by the Putin is a dead end. 

Congrats to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on her SCOTUS nomination. 13/16

Z is for Zephyr, people. Let the angel mark the sacrifice of brave Ukrainians, and the wind lift hopes. 14/16

A note at the back of the book about how this project happened. A chanced-upon 1946 pamphlet that sat in my studio for almost two years before I took up its implicit challenge. And a paragraph of introduction. 15/16

Forgot the ghouls at Fox News! Thanks for reading this thread. Tagging a few folks I follow and admire. Amplify at will. @HC_Richardson @AVindman @MaryLTrump @natsechobbyist @SteveSchmidtSES @samfox_MFA_IVC @juliaioffe @jelani9 @reedgalen @Kaepernick7  

(I still have a few copies of A is for Autocrat left at Spartan Holiday Books.) 16/16