The Republicans Who Embraced Nihilism

[Zorro]

The Supreme Court thwarts the latest Trumpist attack on American democracy.

By The Editorial Board

What is left to say about a political party that would throw out millions of votes?

The substance of a lawsuit filed by the State of Texas, and backed by more than 17 other states, would be laughable were it not so dangerous. Texas’ attorney general, Ken Paxton — who is under indictment for securities fraud — asked the Supreme Court to overturn the results of the presidential election in four other states. As a legal matter, this is the rough equivalent of objecting on the grounds that the other side is winning. As political rhetoric, however, it is incendiary.

The Supreme Court was right to toss out the lawsuit. But that the Republican Party tried and failed doesn’t make the attempt any less odious. There are a lot of Republican leaders who, the history books will record, wanted it to succeed.

What makes this entire episode so sad is that the nation needs a vibrant, honest, patriotic opposition party. A party that argues in good faith to win more votes the next time around. Many Republicans, particularly at the state and local level, stood tall and proud against the worst instincts of the national party.

The health of a democracy rests on public confidence that elections are free and fair. Questioning the integrity of an election is a matter of the utmost seriousness. By doing so without offering any evidence, Mr. Paxton and his collaborators have disgraced themselves. Attorneys general are sworn to uphold the rule of law.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/opinion/republican-election-trump-supreme-court.html

[Arne]

1. It's odious alright. To say the least.

[MyOwnPeace]

2. Say WHAT!?!

"Many Republicans, particularly at the state and local level, stood tall and proud against the worst instincts of the national party."

If you mean "many" - could you perhaps be talking about more than 2? Did you think to look over to Pennsylvania to see that the PA Legislature asked the Supreme Court to invalidate the votes of millions of Pennsylvanians?

And if you did mean "many" - how many of them were covered by the MSM? I know - there were the "usuals" - Mitt, Flake, et al, but really, "many?"

Looks to me like the NYT is trying to put a good face on the party that was riding the LOSER horse clear to the finish line and now trying to give them a chance to say "It wasn't me!"

[Moral Compass]

3. Ken Paxton is a scofflaw

Ken Paxton has been and continues to be in a state of disgrace since before he ran for AG of Texas.

He is an indicted, but not yet convicted, felon--only because he has done everything in his power to avoid trial for multiple felony security fraud indictments. When you are the AG of the state that is trying to bring you to trial you can do quite a bit.

He is an extremely clever weasel who managed to hamstring his prosecution by having one of his allies to file a suit contending that the hourly rate being charged by the prosecution team (I still don't understand why the prosecution is being pursued by free lance prosecutors who bill @ $300 per hour) was excessive and, since that interrupted the flow of money, prosecution stopped.

This all happened before his campaign for reelection. He, of course, won with no difficulty. Being an accused felon is no bar to public office in Texas. Hell, it might even have helped.