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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI'm Not Sure We're Ready for the Chaos That Will Follow the Midterms
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a23779240/republican-voter-fraud-accusations/I'm Not Sure We're Ready for the Chaos That Will Follow the Midterms
Prepare for recount hell and the delegitimizing of the Blue Wave.
By Charles P. Pierce and Mark Warren
Oct 15, 2018
Over the weekend, there were a couple of ominous, if overlooked, statements from Republican officials touching on the upcoming midterm elections. In a radio interview, National Security Adviser John Bolton sang the new administration* tune of how what we really should be watching as regards outside interference in our elections is what China is doing. From the Washington Free Beacon:
Echoing declassified intelligence made public during a speech by Pence, Bolton said the Beijing influence operations must be stopped. "I think the United States needs to stand up, frankly, to any foreign government that thinks it's going to interfere in our politics," he said. "We are a self-governing people. We will govern ourselves. We don't need international institutions to tell us how to do it. And we particularly don't need foreigners trying to exert undue influence over us."
And then, down in Georgia, Brian Kemp, the Republican Secretary of State and current GOP candidate for governor, has been spreading the word that Stacey Abrams, his Democratic opponent, has been arranging for undocumented immigrants to vote in November. He has been sending out mailers to that effect. From Mother Jones:
These two statements are not merely crude electioneering. They are part of a national mechanism that is being created to delegitimize a Democratic sweep should it happen next month. It will be Chinese meddling, or sneaky "Illegals." And they will sell it hard to those people most likely to believe it. And the country likely will catch on fire.
In addition, as close as some of these races appear to be, we likely are heading into a couple of months of recount hell. If 2000 was any indication, there could be 10 or 20 Brooks Brothers riots in our future. All democratic norms are down. It's a free-for-all.
I'm not sure if the Democratic Party is ready for what could be coming, and I'm very sure neither the elite political press nor the country is ready for it. I'd like to believe everything is going to be most chill at the polling places, but I'm not betting on that either way. I'd like to believe that the results, whatever they are, at least will be treated as legitimate decisions made by a democratic polity. But you'd have to be crazy to bet on that.
spanone
(135,846 posts)and cheat in the elections (kemp)
northoftheborder
(7,572 posts)Trump will start firing people who are responsible for the investigations against him; we could easily have a chaotic situation which has no precedent, invoking a constitutional crisis.
CrispyQ
(36,478 posts)If the GOP maintains control of both chambers, this country is going to look radically different by 2020. If we win a chamber, I hope for the best but expect the worst. They have not lied, cheated & stolen to get this power, only to come so close & lose grasp of it. They have shown that they will do anything.
Cosmocat
(14,566 posts)won't be a fracture - the country will completely roll over ...
NewJeffCT
(56,828 posts)Their economy is a lot bigger than Russia, so they can spend more money to help the US out. Funnel money through Planned Parenthood, NARAL, AFL-CIO, NAACP, MoveOn, ActBlue, etc like the Russians funneled money through the NRA.
However, it's only 22 days to go, not sure how effective last minute money can be?
That said, I agree that Trump is going to use Chinese interference to try to de-legitimize any Democratic victories
MichMan
(11,939 posts)Kind of surprised to see that sentiment here
NewJeffCT
(56,828 posts)I was kind of being sarcastic, but if Russia continues to help Trump and the GOP and does nothing to stop it, we'll need all the help we can get.
beachbum bob
(10,437 posts)and voting
lets contend with the aftermath when it happens
nolabear
(41,987 posts)Guilded Lilly
(5,591 posts)acknowledged by most in any astute political circles.
We live in mental chaos now on an hourly basis.
We expect the lunatic and the ludicrous as well as the pathological lies.
We have the numbers to succeed and it remains to be seen if that is enough.
Millions are needed to win the battle, but millions have been woke as well.
Jaysus these are unbelievable, rough times in our souls.
mtnsnake
(22,236 posts)When anyone comes up with excuses before they even lose, it shows just how scared they are right now. I'm taking this as a good sign of things to come in November.
Achilleaze
(15,543 posts)republicans pissing on America and American democracy
Javaman
(62,531 posts)it's not the run up, it's after election day that scares the shit out of me.
bigbrother05
(5,995 posts)And anything even close is used to kick you off.
So to recap: Kemp is demanding perfect records/id's to register, but only needs similar names (last name and 1st initial) to take you off the roles.
Proud Liberal Dem
(24,415 posts)Where's the beef.....I mean, proof of this?
And can somebody please explain to me how Brian Kemp, the SOS, is able to run for another office while being the one counting the votes and refereeing election decisions? Seems like that should be illegal or at least highly unethical and he should have had to step aside from his role as SOS long before this upcoming election. It's even worse than ex-SOS Kathleen Harris being part of the Bush 2000 campaign.
There is no way in hell that the election in Georgia this year can be considered valid in any way, shape, or form.