It continues to be a slow-motion avalanche of political miscalculations, multiplied by frantic demands. I shan’t attempt a full enumeration, but the unexpected victory – a romp, actually – of Taylor Rehmet in Texas over the Trump-endorsed and GOP powerhouse Leigh Wambsganss, the back and forth over his Minneapolis debacle where he sometimes likes Mayor Frey and Governor Walz and sometimes doesn’t, and a number of others, multiplied by his demand concerning … election management:
President Donald Trump called on Republicans to “nationalize the voting” in an interview that aired Monday, as his administration pushes to overhaul election ground rules ahead of the pivotal midterm races this year. [CNN/Politics]
At this point, I hope the number of readers who don’t understand that Trump plans to emplace his own stooges to ensure he gets enough votes, instead of suffering through the embarrassment of actually losing the proud reddish state of Georgia and be accused of corruption to boot, again, along with others, is small. Really small.
For worried readers, I read the Constitution’s Article I, Section 4, which says
The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing [sic] Senators.
The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.
While the clause concerning Congress is perhaps concerning, I read this as placing the responsibility of running elections squarely in the hands of the States. Now, perhaps SCOTUS would find a way, much like that of immunizing the President from being charged with crimes, to “nationalize” vote counting, but I think that would cause an uproar.
Senate Majority leader Senator Thune (R-SD) may not allow it to happen in any case:
“I’m not in favor of federalizing elections,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters Tuesday, pointing to Constitutional requirements that states conduct their own elections. …
“I’m a big believer in decentralizing and distributing power,” Thune added. [PBS News]
Recall that Thune is probably closer to the old-line, responsible Republicans than the latest bunch who see a Senate seat as just another trophy to hang on the wall.
I see this demand from Trump as a frantic reaction to Trump’s aforementioned and unbelievable loss in Texas over the weekend. Not only does that loss challenge his (imagined) reputation for dominance, it threatens to relegate Trump to being a footnote in history and not some figure of overwhelming importance[1]. Mid-term elections are coming, and the 2018 mid-terms were an emotional disaster for Trump. By controlling the elections, he figures he can avoid that damage to his reputation ever again.
It is so childish that it’s embarrassing even for his rivals and adversaries.
1 In fact, much like Emperor Marcus Didius Julianus, who bought the Roman empire at auction and was assassinated a few weeks later for failure, someone who promised so much and delivered so little.
