Republicans Embrace Trump's Lies

What this year's campaign, election and its aftermath should drive home to all Americans is the precarious condition of our democratic republic. Trump 2016 election and his ability over the last four years to unite millions of our fellow citizens in support of autocracy and even outright fascism should be ample evidence that our current constitutional government can be subverted and that there are vast numbers of our fellow Americans that would be willing participants in that subversion.

The Republican Party has fully embraced Trump and sees Trumpism as the key to that party's ability to retain political power.  For decades, Republicans have focused on grievance politics, pitting one group of Americans against another.  What Trump did for them is elevate their grievances and sharpen their focus.  Trump embraced the darkest impulses of fringe groups and forced them into the mainstream of our political discourse.  Some Republicans may have been squeamish about Trump's exchange of the Republican "dog whistle" for a bullhorn, but as his MAGA cult's devotion grew, most of the squeamish minority of the party embraced Trumpism - some quietly, but most enthusiastically.  

Republicans have no interest in American democracy.  They offer no policies for governance and have no solutions for the many domestic issues that are tearing our country apart.  Their only political goal is to stay in power in order to support the wealthy - both individuals and corporations.  Supporting Trump's attacks on the results of the 2020 election give Republicans a lasting political reward for their embrace of Trumpism.

...47% of the country will have an even darker view of Democrats and cities and black voters and "the Deep State." Then we'll be even more divided and the right will be even angrier and more paranoid (and better armed -- I guarantee you that gun sales are rising right now, and will rise even more if Trump's lawsuits fail and Biden's win is certified). But these cynics don't care that they're encouraging a state of permanent cold civil war. They're sure they won't be harmed by this. It'll be the rest of us who suffer as the country continues to fracture.

Republicans can only succeed by dividing the country -  marginalizing, disenfranchising and demonizing any potential opposition to their policies.  Supporting Trump's wild accusations about massive, widespread voter fraud is a great tool for  Republicans in achieving these goals.  It's why they will not abandon Trump even in defeat.  By placing the blame for Trump's defeat, not on his policies and behavior, but on massive voter fraud and "deep state" subversion, Republicans gain all the advantages of Trumpism, without having to debase themselves bowing down before him for four more years.