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The Democratic Strategist

Political Strategy for a Permanent Democratic Majority

Democrats–Get Ready for the Inevitable Republican Counterattack

Democrats–Get Ready for the Inevitable Republican Counterattack. It’s Coming and We Should Be Prepared.

One comment on “Democrats–Get Ready for the Inevitable Republican Counterattack

  1. P Cannon on

    Here’s a counterattack for you.

    Your assertion that “Trump’s only realistic hope for reelection was to hold down turnout among the majority unhappy with his performance and then seek via legal and political chicanery to eke out an Electoral College win by the kind of small miracle he achieved in 2016 or by contesting the results.”
    needs to include OR BY MANIPULATING THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.

    “A real majority of 270 electoral votes is required to elect a president and vice president.  Now, the – another peculiar part of this system or a part of the system that is unusual is that the states have the authority to allocate the electoral votes any way they see fit.”

    Elections 2020: The Electoral College
    FPC BRIEFING
    THOMAS NEALE, SPECIALIST IN AMERICAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AT THE CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
    FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020, 10:00 A.M. EDT
    WASHINGTON, D.C.

    “The Constitution says that a college of electors votes for the president, and Article II of the Constitution gives states nearly unlimited power to decide how these electors are chosen.”

    “Republican lawmakers have been steadfastly loyal to Trump throughout his tumultuous tenure. If Trump were to ask states to appoint electors instead of having an election, they certainly might follow his request, especially those states where the president enjoys wide popularity. ”

    “In 24 of the 30 states with Republican legislatures, a majority of people approve of the president’s job performance, according to last month’s Gallup survey.”

    “Those states control 224 electoral votes—enough to throw the election’s results into doubt.”

    *From The Atlantic: How Donald Trump Could Steal the Election
    The president can’t simply cancel the fall balloting, but his state-level allies could still deliver him a second term.
    MARCH 29, 2020
    Jeffrey Davis
    Professor of political science at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County rom:

    So, everyone says that Biden won the electoral vote but that hasn’t been certified and because there is barely anything saying they can’t, Trump and the republicans (with the help of friendly states with republican governors) will appoint the electors that will vote to elect Trump, regardless of possible pledges because they can afford to pay the measly fines that result, and possibly take their secret ballots which are legal in many states (and maybe if they’re not, that can be fixed by legislation), on January 5 to be tallied at the full congressional session, and lo and behold, Trump gets at least, 271 electoral votes.

    I think this strategy is obvious by the smug look on Pompeo’s face saying they are transitioning to a second term and McConnell calmly stating that “we will find out who was certified in each of these states and the electoral college will determine the winner and that person will be sworn in on January 20th. No reason for alarm.”

    I’m alarmed. Is this just their usual bluster or should the dems strike first by using their strategy as it is probably our last chance to preserve democracy.

    I hope I’m wrong.

    P Cannon
    Golden, CO

    Reply

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