Regarding Josh Hawley
Discover more from Erick Erickson's Show Notes
After the elections in 2000, 2004, and 2016, Democrats challenged the Electoral College in Congress. In all three cases the challenges were unsuccessful.
But it has become a habit for Democrats to challenge the Electoral College when Republicans win. In each of the last three elections where Republicans won, Democrats made a challenge in Congress to the Electoral College.
Some Republicans intend to do so now.
I’m not sure why I should be outraged. It will not be successful. It will not work. But it will scratch an itch for part of the base in the same way it did when Democrats did the same thing in three different elections. In one of those elections, the incumbent President won over 50% of the popular vote and still there were Democrats who challenged the Electoral College in Congress.
I hate the tit for tat of the present age and my view is that I’m a conservative and see no reason to behave like a Democrat or engage in their antics. Some disagree. I would hate for the ridiculous behavior of some progressives to be adopted by otherwise God fearing conservatives — a performative stunt to placate part of a base that refuses to accept reality.
But that’s where we are.
You’ll forgive me for not being worked up about it when the media wasn’t worked up about it when it was the Democrats doing it. That is the most common pattern here. We’re all supposed to get upset when this President lies but not when Mr. “If You Like Your Doctor You Can Keep Your Doctor” lies. We’re supposed to be upset when Republican rhetoric might lead to violence, but give Democrats a pass for their rhetoric after an actual mass assassination attempt on Republicans.
I just don’t have the energy to care when the supposed “Fourth Estate” so blatantly engages in double standards. Hello Stacey “I refuse to concede” Abrams.
No, I don’t think Hawley should do it. No, I don’t think it will be successful. But no, I really don’t care that he is doing it either and an intellectually honest media that fanned no flames of outrage over Democrats doing it should be fanning no flames now. It is okay to ignore performance art.
Regarding Josh Hawley
This is more dangerous than performance art. I'm not a lawyer but it appears a significant problem in Electoral Law has been revealed and needs to be fixed. Maybe next time the aggrieved party will make sure to have an alternate slate of electors prior to the Safe Harbor deadline, control of the House and Senate and WHALA, a coup accomplished.
What I'm about to write next may be more stupid than the previous paragraph. The Republican Party is expletive deleted. Let the wacko's who have bought into the cult of personality become the Republican Party moving forward. The remaining Republicans should resign from the Republican Party and create a new party. For symmetry it could be called the Whig party. I'd probably abandon the Libertarian Party for such a party.
I said it was stupid.
Personally I like Josh Hawley. Let him ruffle all the feathers he wants. At least he is not one of the go along , get along Republicans like the other 95%. No guts no glory.