"Stop the Count!"
As this year’s election for the next President of the United States had progressed through its natural course, the Coronavirus pandemic had introduced a slew of changes to which both the candidates and the American people had to acclimate. Although the obstacles introduced in hosting rallies and facilitating fundraisers may come to mind, the most significant difference was seen in how votes were cast. Due to safety concerns surrounding the congregation of large crowds in finite enclosures, officials nationwide had implored citizens to consider using absentee ballots. There were times when it appeared that Joe Biden and Donald Trump both acceded to a higher mail-in volume; that is, until the latter candidate paradoxically began derailing the process as rife with fraudulent potential. Despite these occasional protestations, the postal-heavy cycle had progressed as planned.
By the time Election Day had arrived in America, warnings of malfeasance had somewhat dissipated. Most of these alerts were initially sounded by Republicans, and being that their candidate had taken a commanding lead during the first night, there was little cause for complaint. Although Trump’s edge over Biden was celebrated by many conservatives across the country, it was done so at the expense of optimistically overlooking a looming caveat. It was expected that because right-wing figures (including the president) portrayed mail-in ballots as a threat, those intent on voting Republican would be more inclined to vote in person. This meant that the absentee forms that were cast would likely skew in Biden’s favor, moving Trump-leaning states in his favor as they were counted. However, due to the unprecedented volume of mail-in ballots, it would take some days before political pundits could determine whether their prophecies would transpire in key swing states.
Millions of Americans had finally found themselves delivered from their presidential purgatory upon the announcement five days later which declared Joe Biden victorious. Indeed, the trends anticipated in toss-up states like Pennsylvania, Georgia and Michigan did materialize, gradually turning them blue on the infamous Electoral College maps. As this happened, many Republicans had resumed their talk of foul play, presenting what they considered irrefutable evidence of a concerted effort among liberals to flood swing state polling centers with phony absentee ballots. This sentiment was accented by a terse plea the president had broadcasted via Twitter — “STOP THE COUNT!”
I will make no attempt to evaluate the verity of President Trump’s electoral fraud allegations, although I am inclined to concur with state courts who have deemed the evidence presented to be tenuous at best. Rather, I would be more interested in knowing if Trump’s ostensible fears legitimately spring from his doubts of the democratic process. When the president’s closest advisors confide that the gambit is best abandoned, one cannot help but feel that pride is the prime impetus. This position is hardly untenable when his decades of unremitting obstinance and vainglory are a matter of public record.
I am welcome to evidence being adjudicated, ballots being recounted, and letting the chips fall where they may. Access to the judicial system is a right afforded by commoner and Commander in Chief alike in this country. However, I do think it is foolish for us as people to delude ourselves into believing that the ongoing castigation of our democratic process is about anything other than shifting blame and saving face. When one’s ego has been padded for so long by the likes of eponymous skyscrapers, NBC hosting gigs, and a propensity for “winning”, an alibi for losing may be a necessary unlikelihood to buy into.
