The Trump move to totally control the electoral process is proceeding with lightning speed. It reminds one of vertical integration by industrial companies. In order to verticlize, a company must control the process of manufacturing its product from origin to completion. Trump’s efforts are well orchestrated and merit real concern from non-Trumpers.
At this point, the effort to install Trump loyalists at the lowest rung of the election ladder to the highest administrator is under way. Those officials who resist are threatened and either quit or get fired. Trump is attempting to install cronies at the election board level to administer in the most aggressive manner the new election laws that permit observers who might intimidate those voters of color in the name of election security. The list of suppression mandates are substantial and are being implemented in spite of the fact that there was no fraud in the 2020 election.
On the state level political front, Republican legislators are enacting an historic series of 20th century “Jim Crow” voter suppression laws. The goal is to give Republican legislatures the power to choose the president, thereby overturning the will of the people. Included in these new laws is the effort to stifle the long-standing rights of voters with respect to the initiative, recall and referendum. A current example of this occurred in Mississippi where an initiative voted on by the people of the state was not put into law by the legislature because the legislators have a constitutional duty to protect their voters. Really? Protect the voters from themselves?
The National effort at voter control across the United States is reminiscent of textbook strategies of many recent dictators worldwide. In America, it is becoming more difficult to ignore as a minor issue as one observes the virtually simultaneous coordinated actions of the state governments. In all probability, Trumps inner circle has directed the overall plan after studying South American and Eastern European dictators. Most of these countries operate under the mantle of democratic institutions. However, they control the electoral and legislative processes and manipulate the media. In the United States, the effort of state governments to control the 1619 project is an excellent example of generational manipulation of the educational process. True to the dictatorial use of power, Trumps presidential administration used government agencies to support his political agenda.
It is not without merit to posit that Trump’s goal is to follow the line of this type of government with support from radicalized elements including the QAnon cult and Christian Nationalists. Factions of both groups believe that Democrats are Satan worshiping pedophiles (20%+) and violence might be the only solution to the redemption of America (20+%). Their fanatical devotion to Trump as some type of savior defies rational thinking and, as a result, this type of fringe group is a threat to the democratic ideal. Sadly, Trump is just using them for his own personal ends.
Today’s Republican political environment is controlled by cults, QAnon, and political extremism. Trump’s latest announcement to his supporters was that he cannot wait until 2022 or 2024 but must regain the presidency by August 2021. Possibly his strategy is to claim the presidency after the fake recounts in the swing states. More to the point however is the fact that he knows that he might be indicted and his desperation for escape includes the immunity of the presidency. There is no doubt that Trump would destroy America in order to vindicate his “victory of 2020”. Trump has become more obsessed with this madness. One wonders if fantasizes about a Napoleon-like return from exile to the White House?
As of early summer 2021, the media world and rational citizens are waking up to the dangerous attack on the right to vote as well as the threat of violence orchestrated by Trump and his henchmen. All Americans, including the Reagan Republicans must raise their voice to protest of the destruction of democracy. The media must continue to counter disinformation outlets such as FOX NEWS and continue to report the facts. Democrats in particular must litigate every part of this mad scheme, and use their financial clout to advertise in strong terms the gravity of the situation.
The result of the control of the Republican by extremists will drive out more party members. Whether the party would become small enough to lose major elections outside of the South is a risky gamble. Realistically the effort rests with the seven or eight swing states. The focus in those states is a priority. The defeat of Trump and his authoritarian effort is the only real answer to the demise of the inertia that radical groups have in the American political arena.
FW 6/3/21
American Commentary 