Have we seen the last American election?

[Cyrano]

Why would anyone take it for granted that we will see another presidential election four years from now, or anytime in the foreseeable future?

Trump and his evil elves really don't give a rat's ass about America, our constitution, or any of the other so-called "rules" of American society. So what's to stop them from declaring martial law due to some kind of made up "national emergency" and then "temporarily" suspending elections?

Lincoln declared martial law during the Civil War, so it's not unprecedented for a president to do so. Actually, all it would take is a handful of agent provocateurs stirring up dangerous/deadly incidents at anti-Trump rallies to give the impression that "mob rule" has become a danger to America. And then the "Great Orange Man" could step forward and declare that martial law would be the only way to restore "law and order" to the country.

Anyone that doesn't think this scenario, or a similar one, couldn't play out in the next couple of years, is probably still wondering how Trump got to the White House. We're pretty sure how he got there. Now we have to worry about him staying there.

And anyone who thinks that the Republican Party would try to stop him, really hasn't been paying attention. The GOP is a criminal enterprise and has been for the last few decades. Some of them agree with Trump, some of them fear him, but they will all do as they're told.

[Warpy]

1. Look at what's happening in NC

The Republicans really have morphed into a racketeering organization.

We'll have elections as long as they can control the outcome.

[HassleCat]

2. Effectively, perhaps.

Many voters will be cynical, and will stay home. It will be a plebiscite in a dictatorship. Trump will win a second term, but it will be an actual landslide, not just in his mind.

[BainsBane]

3. Even Russia has elections.

There is no reason to stop elections when the GOP engages in widespread voter suppression. Elections in and of themselves don't make a democracy.

I'll also point out that Republicans said Obama would do away with elections. Obviously that didn't happen.

[uponit7771]

6. +1, dictators love democracies they can stay in control of

[ck4829]

4. The last federal election was in 2014

This one was too tainted by the Dylann Roof bloc (AKA the alt-right), the FSB, and James Comey.

[uponit7771]

5. YES !! ESPECIALLY if James Comey isn't prosecuted seeing he showed partisan heads of agencies how to

... interfere with an election and get away with it via congressional proxies.

[Cyrano]

7. Trump won't need a James Comey

He's surrounding himself with an army of anti-government wing nuts. They will control all the levers of power. And the congressional Republicans will just sit around sucking their thumbs while the Orange Emperor does whatever he wants to do. To anyone he wants to do it to. Anytime he feels like doing it to them.

[uponit7771]

11. +1

[dems_rightnow]

8. That line was used extensively for Bush II

Didn't happen.

Some of my more outrageous non-thinking right-wing friends said it was going to happen with Obama. Of course it didn't.

This won't either.

[Cyrano]

9. That's because Cheney couldn't talk him into it

[Generator]

10. Well actually Trump can follow Putin's playbook

If only people read a little. But I digress.
Putin got in there for four years. Then he had a stooge that still listened to him for the next four. Then he changed the constitution so he could run again for a longer term-six years. His second six years is up in 2020 just like Trump. Will be interesting to watch.

And my biggest point to us is this: ONCE you step over all norms-foreign influence-fbi influence-no divesting of business conflicts-fake news-racism-sexism-what makes you think they won't CHANGE this norm too? There will be elections-but what kind-will people believe that the next Dem murders children and orange hitler is allowed to rant and rave and threaten people NOT to vote? Do you really think every thing is going to stay the same if we don't stop this shit NOW? Why would he give up power unless we/someone make him? He is a dictator. You were warned.

[uponit7771]

15. +1, this is EXACTLY how despots in the past have done this... they normalize breaking the law...

... then begin breaking it.

No other prez elect in the history of this nation has entered office being sued for cheating college students out of their money

[First Speaker]

16. Trump isn't Bush...

...or Obama, or Richard Nixon. Or FDR, or Lincoln, or Andrew Jackson, or any of the other endless lists of Presidents who have been called "dictators" by their opponents. He's Donald Trump, and this is 2016. This situation has to be seen on its own merits. And we have a dangerously unstable manchild, a sociopath, likely a traitor. Heading a party that has gotten more and more extreme, and has seemingly abandoned the fig leaf of believing in any kind of liberal democracy--see North Carolina. Democracy is under greater threat right now than any time since the Civil War, and recognizing this fact is the first duty of anyone who wants to see it survive.

[CrispyQ]

12. I think we'll still have elections, just not elections with integrity.

The GOP controls the government. They have the WH, the Senate, the House, a SCOTUS nom, right out of the gate, AND a trifecta in over a majority of state legislatures. They will continue with their voter disenfranchisement laws & implementing electronic voting in areas that don't already have it. So they don't need to call off elections, because they control the elections.

Also, this last election has demoralized a number of citizens, who question the integrity of our process, & many may figure their vote doesn't count, so why bother? Low voter turnout always plays to the GOPs advantage.

I've said it over & over: the democrats didn't just drop the ball. They lost the game. It will be decades before we recover from Election 2016.

[yuiyoshida]

13. Trump for Life could happen...

You have a majority of Republicans in the House, Senate and soon the Supreme court. Putin did it, and so could Donald Trump. Do Republicans care about the Rule of Law? ...no. They don't.

[libtodeath]

14. I would say yes as of today

I never thought I would see this happening before my eyes.