From the 10/12/posting, an extract focusing on how dangerous undermining faith in the election process is to the continuation of democracy. It also touches on how the anti-democracy MAGA right sees chaos they foment themselves should be cured by their own solution: government control by a strong man with an "iron fist" who is their great leader, Donald Trump.
(Update: 11/18/2023 Colorado judge finds Trump engaged in insurrection, but keeps him on ballot : NPR Thi will be appealed to the Colorado Supreme Court, and then likely onto the US Supreme Court with the conservative majority. The bad news for Trump is the Colorado judge was the first judicial finding that Trump was an insurrectionist and his First Amendment rights were not jeopardized. The good news left many judicial jaws dropping that Trump was not an officer of the country because his oath of office did not conform to the oath of other officials. This is truly a debatable interpretation of the 14th Amendment. That will certainly be the crux of the appeal)
This persistent belief the 2020 election was stolen is a danger to democracy. Perpetuation of the Big Lie is central to the anti-democracy strategy to destroy faith in the democratic process and then use what they themselves had sabotaged and undermined to replace it with an autocrat who makes sure their MAGAs win by whatever means necessary, including replacing the Department of Justice with loyalists.
Per reporting by Charlie Sykes of the Bulwark, based upon a prosecution's recent filing regarding Trump's role in January 6, prosecutors will make the case to a jury that Ttump knowingly lied about facts he knew to be false. He used the lies he knew were lies to motivate supporters to overturn the election. This is in anticipation of the defense argument that Trump actually believed he won so what he said was not intentional and, therefore, not a crime. They bank on the defense argument that you cannot prove what was in Trump's head. That politicians lie all the time on the stump and have a First Amendment right of free speech to do it is another Trump defense. The answer is the purpose of his lies was to convince others to commit crimes on his behalf to overturn the election and stay in power. It was his actions, knowingly using lies as a tool to advance his beliefs, sincerely held he won, delusional or not sincerely held, to overturn the election with violence.
Some of MAGA will understand that Trump thought they were devoted to him enough to believe whatever he claims as gospel truth. In fact, the majority of the GOP still believes him, he was so effective. Believing that, or repeating whether they still believe it when they don't, is necessary to qualify in his eyes as a bonafide loyal member of the MAGA followers. That is the only way I can explain that despite three years of trying, no evidence, no court cases, no "forensic audit" could come up with proof there was enough fraud to overturn the 2020 election. It is irrational, but it is a necessary part of swearing allegiance to Trump.
There are advocates in the MAGA movement, such as Steve Bannon, who see creating chaos as part of the strategy to replace democracy with a strong leader autocrat he favors that would empower MAGA movement to rule over those they disdain,. Claiming democracy does not work is dependent on their convincing the MAGA movement that it does not work for them at the ballot box. They have been very successful since 70% of Republicans still think the election was stolen. The ability of all citizens to choose their leaders via the ballot is the most central and fundamental characteristic of a democracy. .https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2022/07/politics/steve-bannon-us-democracy and faith in its integrity is essential. Keeping the Big Lie going is how the MAGA anti-democracy radicals are trying to damage that faith in order to give a rationale for replacing democracy with a form of dictatorship (by Trump) instead..\To achieve this goal, Trump even advocates violence, and his followers are quick to do likewise, threatening violence against any politician or judge or law enforcer who acts against Trump's interest.
The latest death threats are against Colorado's Republican Congressman, Ken Buck, who has been outspoken against Trump's back House Speaker, Jim Jordan. Ken Buck one of multiple Republicans receiving death threats for voting against Rep. Jim Jordan as House Speaker | Colorado Public Radio (cpr.org) One of Buck's issues is that Jordan is an election denier and is against more aid to Ukraine. How right he is about Jordan, who played a role in January 6, supporting the attempt to for Pence to go along with the conspiracy to refuse to certify the 2020 election as late as January 5 and every act supporting the big lie and the refusal to certify the election thereafter. As head of the judicial committee Jordan was a verbal bomb thrower from impeachment attempts of Trump to refusing ot testify before the January 6 committee after being subpoenaed. He may expect those he throws his political adversaries to turn up when he sobpoenas him but he himself refuses to appear if he gets subpoenaed. So fixated is he on his role of attack dog, he never passed a piece of serioius legislation he sponsored in ihe House in his 16 years as a congressman.. Yet, that is is job of a Speaker, to get his party's legislation passed. He does not subscribe to the legislative process; he has seeked to destroy it if it does not support Trump's ambitions. What to know about Jim Jordan's role in Jan. 6 - ABC News (go.com)
What is now even more critical at stake in 2024 is the election of Trump, who does not even support the Constitution, evidenced by the claim by his attorneys that Trump is not sworn to defend it. Trump tells court he had no duty to 'support' the Constitution as president (msn.com) This lawsuit centers on Trump's failure to support the constitution on January 6. Trump's frightening comment was revealed by the lawsuit against Trump brought by GOP and independent Colorado citizens seeking to disqualify Trump from being on the Colorado ballot in 2024. The 14th Amendment plan to disqualify Trump, explained - BBC News The Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, named in the suit, plans to "see the suit through" . Colorado secretary of state calls Trump a ‘liar,’ vows to see ballot lawsuit through | The Hill A recent Supreme Court action on a similar issue per experts, did not affect the Colorado case because the legal argument on its behalf if stronger.. Trump's refusal to support the Constitution is consistent with earlier statements that he wanted to terminate or suspend the Constitution and his advocacy of political violence instead of ballots. . Trump calls for the termination of the Constitution in Truth Social post | CNN Politics
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