The months between Election Day in 2020 and Inauguration Day in 2021 saw a disturbing mobilization of Republican lawmakers and media personalitiesโled by former President Donald Trumpโto overturn now-President Joe Biden's victory.
The unprecedented effort saw chaotic press conferences, sham hearings, frivolous lawsuits, and a tidal wave of disinformation that culminated in a deadly siege of the United States Capitol by pro-Trump extremists.
Using this increased skepticism of the American electoral process, Republican legislatures across the country have introduced a slate of proposals designed to limit the access of historically Democratic votersโparticularly Black votersโto the ballot box.
In a new op-ed, Washington Post columnist Max Boot outlines how voter suppression laws in Georgia, Florida, Arizona, Texas, and other states could be used to install a Trumpian President in 2024.
Boot notes the GOP has already proven its fealty to Trump and the conspiracies he endorses:
"In January, 139 House Republicans and eight Senate Republicans voted not to certify electoral college results in at least one state. Since then, the most prominent GOP opponent of the 'big lie,' Rep. Liz Cheney (Wyo.), has been purged from the House leadership. Willingness to lie about election fraud has become a litmus test for Republicans, with the implicit threat of mob violence if they don't go along. Republicans are so scared of Trump and his fanatical followers that most of them just voted against a bipartisan investigation of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol."
And writes that a similar, successful effort could be launched if Republicans secure both the House and the Senate in 2022:
"Many congressional Republicans will refuse to certify a 2024 Democratic win in swing states. If Republicans control Congress, they could deny the Democrats an electoral college majority and throw the election to the House โ where each state delegation, regardless of population, would cast one ballot. Given that Republicans already control a majority of state delegations, they could override the election outcome. If that happens, it would spell the end of American democracy."
He concludes by imploring Democrats to overcome the filibuster and pass landmark voting rights legislation like the For The People Act.
He is not alone in his concerns.
I think even this is not stating it plainly enough.\n\nThey intend on destroying democracy. They don't want just 2024. They want autocratic rule by the GOP with no one to answer to.https://twitter.com/MaxBoot/status/1399818258719690759\u00a0\u2026โ Jessica Mendes\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 \ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc73\udb40\udc63\udb40\udc74\udb40\udc7f (@Jessica Mendes\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 \ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc73\udb40\udc63\udb40\udc74\udb40\udc7f) 1622636554
Fascism will in fact come wrapped in a flag & carrying a cross.https://twitter.com/maxboot/status/1399818258719690759\u00a0\u2026โ Prosecute, then Heal (@Prosecute, then Heal) 1622633158
This isn't alarmist. The GOP is clearly showing what it intends to do. If we don't take actions to protect free + fair elections now, we're thoroughly hosed.https://twitter.com/MaxBoot/status/1399818258719690759\u00a0\u2026โ Joe Brockmeier (@Joe Brockmeier) 1622597011
Republicans are actively working to end American Democracy.\n\nThat is not hyperbole.\n\nThat is an irrefutable fact.https://twitter.com/MaxBoot/status/1399818258719690759\u00a0\u2026โ Left Sock \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@Left Sock \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1622590066
This is not alarmist. The @GOP is passing bills at the state level to suppress the vote and steal back majorities in the House & Senate in 2022; which would enable them to refuse to certify the winner of the 2024 election unless its a Republican. It\u2019s the filibuster or democracy.https://twitter.com/maxboot/status/1399818258719690759\u00a0\u2026โ Andrew Wortman \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@Andrew Wortman \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1622589332
Scary to think about. Congress does not have the power to decide how the electoral college votes. Governors and the Vice President don't get to pick the President. The people of each state decide how their state votes. Certifying an election is not deciding an election.https://twitter.com/MaxBoot/status/1399818258719690759\u00a0\u2026โ Republican Renaissance (@Republican Renaissance) 1622588899
People are mounting pressure on Democratsโespecially moderate Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizonaโto support filibuster overhaul.
It's almost like they keep telling us what they are going to do, and then they do it. Meanwhile, Joe Manchin is worries that eliminating the filibuster will end democracy . . . .https://twitter.com/MaxBoot/status/1399818258719690759\u00a0\u2026โ Jim Cottrill (@Jim Cottrill) 1622639846
@TeamPelosi end the filibuster. This is why we voted for all of you!!!https://twitter.com/maxboot/status/1399818258719690759\u00a0\u2026โ fly4 (@fly4) 1622635611
"Senate Democrats have to choose between saving the filibuster and saving democracy. They can\u2019t do both."\nUnfortunately, this is correct.https://twitter.com/MaxBoot/status/1399818258719690759\u00a0\u2026โ (((Dan Hoffman))) (@(((Dan Hoffman)))) 1622640139
Boot's concerns came as more than 100 scholars of Democracy issued a statement of concern that warned the democratic process is at risk.
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