Republicans won't concede: They react to sweeping losses by attacking democracy

[Wednesdays]

Matt Bevin hopes the Kentucky legislature will just appoint him governor: One more sign Republicans hate democracy

SOPHIA TESFAYE
NOVEMBER 8, 2019 11:00AM (UTC)

Republicans, led by President Trump, have been a united chorus of cries that any impeachment inquiry is meant to overturn the results of an election. But as they’ve suffered sweeping statewide and local electoral losses in the Trump era, they’ve grown increasingly unconstrained in their efforts to overturn unfavorable election results by attacking the democratic process.

Election integrity and transparency are two things that should engender bipartisan support. But it has been a long time since the GOP viewed democracy as anything like an ideal to be upheld rather than a system to be gamed in order to consolidate power. Their reaction to recent election losses, while hardly stunning, still manages to push the barriers of what a healthy democracy can reasonably accommodate.

[snip]

In Pennsylvania, where Republicans took a history-making shellacking in the all-important Philadelphia suburbs, the Republican Party is now threatening to sue the state. The GOP claims that delays in voting in some areas caused long lines that forced people to leave the polls in frustration before casting ballots. Republicans blame the state’s Democratic governor for approving a switch to paper ballots over digital machines, a change meant to prevent hacking concerns.

A few thousand miles southwest, the chair of Arizona's Republican Party, Kelli Ward, apparently aghast at seeing Democrats flip both houses of the Virginia state legislature to take control of all three branches of government for the first time in 25 years, actually floated a state-level electoral college scheme.

[snip]

https://www.salon.com/2019/11/08/republicans-wont-concede-they-react-to-sweeping-losses-by-attacking-democracy/

[RKP5637]

1. The new GOP, the tRump Cult, is like an invasion force, not giving a damn about the country other

than to win and destroy it. They are not even remotely like the old GOP from years ago. In my lifetime the GOP has gone to hell and is likely not coming back. Any even remotely like Dwight Eisenhower would be kicked out of the new GOP.

[RKP5637]

4. Yes, it should really be renamed "The Sociopath Party." n/t

[Beartracks]

3. Cheaters always assume they've been cheated against when they lose.

[CrispyQ]

5. They only ever favored representative government while it represented them.

As long as demographics kept (mostly) straight, white Christians in power, representative government was okay. Once uppity women, people of color, & gays started demanding equality & equity in the system, & gained the numbers to enforce it with our votes, then it became time to "shut that whole thing down."

This is why I have no respect for anyone who still identifies with this party. Supporting the GOP is supporting the suppression of other American citizen's vote.

[wnylib]

13. My feelings exactly about anyone who still

identifies with this anti democracy party. I used to respect them even when I disagreed with them. But the attitudes and actions of their leaders are so despicable --and obvious -- that there is no excuse for sticking with them other than being equally despicable.

[empedocles]

6. Like Brexit, Kentucky, can be a wake-up call, warning and stimulate

preparation for next November.

[TheFarseer]

7. It's only OK for Democrats and black people

To wait in long lines. White people have jobs they need to get to.

[bitterross]

11. Same thing I was thinking.

The GOP sure doesn't have any problem with long, long lines in predominantly poor and minority neighborhoods. You know, the ones that are likely to vote for a Democrat.

But hey, when it comes their turn, it sure does sting them.

[hvn_nbr_2]

8. "delays in voting caused long lines""

A thousand times Republicans have deliberately caused much worse voting conditions in minority, poor, and young areas. It happens once to Republican voters and they think it's the end of life as we know it. Fuck 'em. Lying hypocrites.

[Kaiserguy]

9. I voted in PA

on the new machines funny but it didn't take me any longer to vote on them than it did on the old machines. Maybe what the real problem is that the new machines are honest and that why the GOP didn't win !

[yaesu]

10. this is part of their game plan, they no longer support Democracy. nt

[hadEnuf]

12. They are a party who flushed any semblance of decency and democracy down the toilet long ago.

They are now nothing more than power obsessed fascists who will do anything to hold on to that power.

The only thing they need or understand is to be stopped cold politically.

Anything less is a dangerous waste of time.

[wnylib]

16. This.

[bucolic_frolic]

14. Republican Party is at WAR with anything that stands in their way of Dictatorship

it's been this way since 1994. Newt. We just have to clobber them in 2020 and the playing field will recover. I mean CLOBBER. Decimate. Trounce.

[Evolve Dammit]

23. Yup. And Dems, stop the purity tests. Any rational adult for President (excludes GOP of course).

We need to turn out in record numbers and I do believe it will happen. Everybody: Tell your friends to show up and vote and offer to drive. Take a senior to the polls. Pick up a friend or relative and friend. It's only one day a year (or very 4 in this case). Send a message the world will hear. If we lost this one, the dictator-wanna-be and all his minions will be on steroids compared to what we've been through so far. They only want to destroy it all. Zero plans on helping anyone. That should be crystal clear at this point.

[Marcuse]

15. Ask not what I can do for my country ...

[wnylib]

17. But ask instead

"What can I do TO my country." -- to keep it in my control.

But I was saying this about them long before the Trump crime family became the latest front persons for the great Republican power grab.

[KPN]

18. The last gasp effort for life, as opposed to

peaceful acceptance and satisfaction with that life, is always desperate.

[wnylib]

19. We can expect the same reaction and tactics

next year at this time if Trump is still in office and loses the election.

Fasten your seat belts, tie down your hats, and keep your arms at your sides. This will be a very rough ride for the nation.

[Thekaspervote]

20. Beiven's gop colleagues are telling him to get over it and concede

[Ponietz]

21. GOP--Enemy of the People

[Skidmore]

22. Trump's

prosperity Dominists need to be shamed out of their cult. Church must be removed from government. Trump draws much of his support from these people.

When I lived in Iran, my first husband told me something I've never forgotten. When Khomeini returned, my husband told me to not underestimate the clergy' even the ones with the smallest congregations. The clergy earn their living by wordsmithing about the intangible and invisible. They can bestow power on any event, object, or person that serves their purpose.Their teachings must be discredited for them to lose their grip in the same way that the guy who kept saying that the world was going to end and the dates he gave passed without event.

All of the wealthy people in America do not make up 30% of the population or vote.

[Dream Girl]

24. They just think certain people should have the right to vote. Other than that, democracy is fine

[ck4829]

25. K&R

[Mike Nelson]

26. They have no choice...

... in order to retain power, they must end democracy.

[vlyons]

27. Long lines at the polls

are the result of too few polling places and too few voting stations inside the polling places. Both of which are the result of the stingey GOP strategy to make it harder to vote.