Try to imagine the rightwing outrage if Obama said that the few thousands of votes in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Michigan that separate Hillary and Trump shouldn’t count and we won’t acknowledge them—and therefore Hillary should be president.
Of course, he has too much respect for our Constitution to do such a thing. On the other hand, we are on a road where stealing elections are standard operating procedure for the GOP. We’ve had six years of voter suppression tactics---now, even if we somehow overcome those we are told we will still lose.
To be clear: there was never a scenario—not before the election or (God-willing) the next election where Donald Trump would ever accept defeat. He is a megalomaniac and the GOP is all to happy to kowtow to him.
Today, we got a glimpse of the total madness that is Donald Trump. Today, he incorrectly said that he won the popular vote, and I quote, “if you deduct the millions who voted illegally".
This is horrifying. No evidence provided or any qualifiers---just putting it out there that we should actually deduct millions of votes against him.
Not a peep from any “responsible" republican denouncing him on this anti-American sentiment. Counting all votes is the fundamental basis of our democracy, not to mention our entire system of government. To even suggest that votes against you “shouldn't count” just because they were against you should horrify everyone.
Not a peep from the Democrats either, mind you. It’s just Donald being Donald. That rapscallion. Obama’s got to ensure that “smooth transition” and Democrats in the House and Senate want to show they can work with him.
This is not something to make light of.
To reiterate: It is horrifying that our new president says that if an election doesn’t go his way, the results have to be fraudulent. De-legitimizing an election is always the first step towards a dictatorship.
Make no mistake about this. We are there: this first step of republican authoritarian rule. We are at a place where the GOP will not concede elections.
Need proof? Check out what the hell is going on in North Carolina.
The bathroom governor, Pat McCrory, lost by thousands of votes. He lost by roughly the same margin as Hillary did in Michigan. He swears there was fraud, although he can’t provide one shred of proof. Even the GOP elections boards have said the governor has no proof. There is a recount, but they won’t find thousands of extra votes.
There is no possibility of McCrory getting more votes in North Carolina than his Democratic opponent.
However, next week, the state legislature will vote to make McCrory governor anyway.
Any “contested” election gets decided by the state legislature, according to the GOP-rewritten Constitution. Since the legislature is overwhelmingly GOP thanks to gerrymandering (and jerry-rigging), the will of the people will be ignored and McCrory will be “installed" as governor---not elected. How the hell is an election “contested" when the other guy gets more votes? Who the hell knows--or cares.
The GOP will be watching the response to this travesty very closely. They figure people will bitch about it, and then go on with their lives. The GOP has an agenda—an anti-woman, corporate shilling, Constitution trampling agenda—and they don’t give a damn whether power is seized or bestowed as long as they can fulfill it.
I plead with you---if you have never been an activist, we need you now. In January, a maniacal, authoritarian-prone dictator wannabe will assume office, thanks in no small part due to a hostile foreign power, and has already told us he is above the law and as president will do whatever he wants.
It will be too easy for us to think things are normal—especially those of us who won’t be directly impacted by Donald Trump’s horrorshow. Because this “Klan-backed, misogynist internet troll” will be the Commander-in-Chief, and our elections are legitimately under threat. If you have ever considered being an activist—now is the time. At minimum, vote in every election and back candidates who stand up to Trump. However, to really fight for our freedoms, you must donate time and, if you can, money, to liberal, grassroots organizations and watchdog groups. Believe me, anything you can spare will help. Jon Oliver lists several at the 19:34 mark of his video.
Do it now… you might not get a chance later.
Monday, Nov 28, 2016 · 12:54:36 AM +00:00 · SemDem
I wrote this “fictional” short story back in May during the Bernie/Hillary pie fights on what a post-apocalyptic world would be like after a hypothetical Trump election. I thought it was pretty good--but it flopped big time, so I gave up my dream of a novel (which would have focused on a breakaway California Republic). I only bring it up because the part about what happened on election day is pretty chilling now that I look back. Here’s hoping the rest of it doesn't come anywhere close to fruition....
