Courtesy of Bastrop Advertiser
Nov. 26, 2020
By Joni Ashbrook
President Donald Trump was a reality TV star before running for president. Now he’s starring in another show that’s not based in “reality.”
Plot:
Trump claims the election was stolen from him even though his own highly respected cybersecurity chief said this election was the “most secure in American history.”
Background:
Trump rehearsed making baseless claims of “election fraud” many times before.
When President Barack Obama won reelection, Trump called that a “total sham.”
In 2016 during the Republican primaries, Trump lost the Iowa caucus and screamed, “Ted Cruz didn’t win Iowa, he stole it.”
In 2018 Trump claimed fraud in the Florida’s senate and governor races.
Before the 2016 election, Trump cried the election would be “rigged,” and later swore he won the popular vote because millions of people voted illegally for Hillary Clinton.
Motivation:
Trump is desperate because he faces several serious legal challenges once he’s out of office.
Foreshadowing:
In August, Trump said, “The only way we’re going to lose this election is if the election is rigged,” he also said the election should end on Nov. 3.
Trump quickly installed another Supreme Court justice because he expected the election to be decided by the courts, not the people, and he refused to commit to the peaceful transfer of power.
Staging:
Due to the pandemic and Trump’s false claims that mail-in-ballots were fraudulent, polls showed that huge numbers of Democrats would vote by mail.
The GOP-controlled legislatures in the key states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin ignored pleas from election officials to allow counting mailed ballots before the election like the vast majority of states.
Republicans usually vote on Election Day creating the appearance that Trump won on Nov. 3, only to have his victory “stolen” as the mailed ballots were later counted.
Supporting roles:
Louis DeJoy previously played the role of a major Trump donor, now he’s playing the postmaster general slowing mail delivery especially in battleground states.
In 2016, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., portrayed a Republican with a spine calling Trump “unfit for office.” Now Graham is playing Trump’s top lapdog willing to ask Georgia’s secretary of state to toss out ballots.
Rudy Giuliani previously played the role of “America’s mayor,” but now as Trump’s attorney he’s playing the “village idiot” shouting wild conspiracy theories in front of a landscaping business.
GOP lawmakers play Trump’s henchmen undermining democracy by repeating his baseless fraud claims, or being complicit through their silence.
Scene 1:
Nov. 4, Trump declared himself the winner though millions of votes were still being counted.
Later Trump tweeted, “ANY VOTE THAT CAME IN AFTER ELECTION DAY WILL NOT BE COUNTED!”
Scene 2:
Trump’s claims of fraud repeatedly fail in court. His lawyers often have to admit to judges that they are not claiming “fraud.”
Scene 3:
Trump’s attorney Sydney Powell explains on Fox Business their next plan to subvert the will of the people.
“The entire election, frankly, in all the swing states should be overturned and the legislatures should make sure the electors are selected for Trump.”
Scene 4:
Trump invites GOP lawmakers from Michigan to the White House, presumably to pressure them to choose electors for him and not Joe Biden.
Finale:
The people clearly told Trump: “You’re fired!” since Joe Biden’s electoral margin was the same as Trump’s in 2016 when he declared his victory was a “landslide.” But thanks to Trump and his minions, not everyone sees it that way.
In Sundown, Texas, Mayor Jonathan Strickland said there’s “no way in hell” Biden won fairly, and “As far as the civil war goes, I don’t think it’s off the table.”
