Existing analyses of monarchical robustness in the face of the Arab uprisings have largely focused on formal institutional mechanisms of survival. In both its dynastic and lynchpin variants, monarchies have so far managed to weather the storm of the Arab street. While dynastic oil-rich Gulf monarchies have largely used their hydrocarbon wealth, external ties, and interventions to stifle dissent (most notably in the cases of Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain). Lynchpin monarchies of Morocco and Jordan, poor in natural resources, have demonstrated greater institutional flexibility, and strategically inchoate protest groups. The paper first examines the different strategies for regime survival employed by monarchies in Morocco and Jordan. These include an astute management style of the different opposition groups, use of patronage, and a state-manufactured political legitimacy, which has placed, at least discursively, the monarchy above the political system. The study contends that monarchies' apparent "success" in staving off the tempest of the Arab revolts is not solely due to institutional or inherent regime-type considerations, but may also be a function of the weakness, and manipulation of local protest movements. Thus, the paper moves beyond formal institutional regime response to the Arab uprisings, and examines an area of research that has garnered scant scholarly attention: the micro-dynamics of the protest movements at the heart of the street revolts. Using the case of the February 20th movement in Morocco, the paper applies social movement theory as a conceptual framework to examine the movement’s strategies, frames of contention, and its internal forces challenging the state. Based on several interviews with leading (current and former) members of the Feb. 20th movement, the paper contends that the protest movement was, from the beginning, beset by ideological fissures, lack of consistent contestation strategy, internal disorganization, state penetration, and co-optation. The Feb. 20th movement was outmaneuvered, and even instrumentalized to provide sheepish reforms. The paper finally suggests that despite the failure of the February 20th movement, it has managed a discursive silver lining as it has elevated the anti-regime narrative to include dissent in areas previously considered taboo by the state in Morocco.