MAGA Keeps on Keeping On
[guest post by Dana]
Just another day in MAGA world. Former national security advisor Michael Flynn, who was recently pardoned by President Trump, actually said this out loud. And he did so because he knows there’s an appetite for it. I’d even say a big appetite:
Speaking with the pro-Trump network Newsmax on Thursday night, Flynn said the president should [Ed. he actually said “could,” not should.] deploy the military and “seize” voting machines to hold a new election.
“There is no way in the world we are going to be able to move forward as a nation,” said Flynn… “He could immediately, on his order, seize every single one of these machines, on his order.”
“He could order the, within the swing states, if he wanted to, he could take military capabilities, and he could place those in states and basically rerun an election in each of those states,” Flynn told Newsmax. “I mean, it’s not unprecedented. These people are out there talking about martial law like it’s something that we’ve never done. Martial law has been instituted 64 times.”
Here's Michael Flynn on Newsmax saying that Trump could order "military capabilities" to swing states and "rerun an election in each of those states."
"People out there talk about martial law like it's something that we've never done. Martial law has been instituted 64 times." pic.twitter.com/KNmiAGGiPF
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 18, 2020
As a reminder:
As of this month, all 50 states and Washington, DC, had certified their election results. On December 14, the Electoral College convened across the country, and electors cast their votes for Trump or Biden, depending on how their respective states voted. The final tally showed that Biden won 306 electoral votes — and the presidency — while Trump notched 232.
Eh, just a few points. While there have been times when martial law has been invoked, it has never been imposed to overturn a presidential election because a sitting President of the United States is throwing a gigantic hissy fit after being declared the loser! On top of that, Flynn seems to have forgotten that the Supreme Court has repeatedly – 59 times! – refused to accept the baseless claims of fraud made by Trump:
The president does not have the power to unilaterally cancel, delay, postpone, or change the date of an election, even if he declares martial law…that power lies with Congress…Declaring martial law also does not suspend the Constitution, and the military has no role in administering elections. Even if it did, it would not be able to run new elections because the right to vote is not specified in the Constitution or by a federal statute.
Today, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy and Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville released a joint statement putting down any outlandish thoughts Flynn might have:
There is no role for the U.S. military in determining the outcome of an American election.
And Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who is a pilot in the National Guard, also pushed back:
No. The military will not be “deployed” to re-run an election. It’s time for this to be shut down, and now. Gen. Flynn has lost his moral authority to be taken seriously, and the GOP needs to stand up to it. #RestoreOurGOP
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) December 18, 2020
I have. History reminds us that standing against the passions of emotions in defense of our Constitution is always right. https://t.co/6hWEah2Wxm
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) December 18, 2020
Flynn was publicly supported by at least one elected official. Here’s Virginia State Senator Amanda Chase, who is also running for governor of the state:
We know you cheated to win and we’ll never accept these results. Fair elections we can accept but cheating to win; never. It’s not over yet. So thankful President Trump has a backbone and refuses to concede. President Trump should declare martial law as recommended by General Flynn.
I’d like to believe that Flynn and Chase are outliers, but I don’t.
Fix your party, Republicans.