These attempts to overthrow elections are experiments that are challenging democratic norms through every conceivable avenue. From getting the VP or congress to delay certification to judicial means to state level attempts haven't worked. "People power" on Jan 6 hadn't worked.
The only remaining avenues left are use of force and wholesale corruption of the elections process by infiltration of partisans into positions of government election oversight power, and disenfranchisement of Democrats.
Agree the problem is much bigger than Trump. Stop the Steal, the continued loud assertion of the Big Lie, and the spread of “fraudits” have naturalized and normalized a “Truth” embraced by over half of voters who identify as Republicans - any victory by a Democrat is by definition illegitimate. And in swing states with GOP legislatures, they’re taking steps now to ensure promoters of the Big Lie will be in charge of administering elections. Some states are inventing additional authority in the legislature to overturn election results.
These initiatives may have been originally motivated by a hope Trump will run again, so they can make sure he “won’t be cheated” next time. But I assure you DeSantis, Hawley or Abbott, or even purported “sane” candidates like Rubio or Haley, will happily use the new machinery. Furthermore, though the focus of the GOP has been taking over machinery for Presidential elections, having rabid partisans running elections will create crises up and down the ballot.
These attempts to overthrow elections are experiments that are challenging democratic norms through every conceivable avenue. From getting the VP or congress to delay certification to judicial means to state level attempts haven't worked. "People power" on Jan 6 hadn't worked.
The only remaining avenues left are use of force and wholesale corruption of the elections process by infiltration of partisans into positions of government election oversight power, and disenfranchisement of Democrats.
Agree the problem is much bigger than Trump. Stop the Steal, the continued loud assertion of the Big Lie, and the spread of “fraudits” have naturalized and normalized a “Truth” embraced by over half of voters who identify as Republicans - any victory by a Democrat is by definition illegitimate. And in swing states with GOP legislatures, they’re taking steps now to ensure promoters of the Big Lie will be in charge of administering elections. Some states are inventing additional authority in the legislature to overturn election results.
These initiatives may have been originally motivated by a hope Trump will run again, so they can make sure he “won’t be cheated” next time. But I assure you DeSantis, Hawley or Abbott, or even purported “sane” candidates like Rubio or Haley, will happily use the new machinery. Furthermore, though the focus of the GOP has been taking over machinery for Presidential elections, having rabid partisans running elections will create crises up and down the ballot.