All Politics Is Local

But bad behavior has no boundaries

A concerning 10% slump in the turnout of Black voters during the early days of North Carolina polling is highlighting the local news. Speculation abounds as to why this is happening. I am generally loath to join in, because I have no direct knowledge of why this might be so. Nevertheless, I’ll go a round or two. When facts fail, speculation is our stock in trade.

This much I do know – MAGA gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson, a Black man, has more or less irretrievably run his own campaign into the ground. This appears to be pretty much par for the course for this fellow, given his history of fiscal mismanagement (bad checks and bankruptcies, a business in his wife’s name that is under scrutiny for misappropriation of funds, etc.). The icing on the cake was the revelation of his long history of porn consumption, claims of various sorts of sexual misbehavior, and his assertion that he is a “Black Nazi.”

Not a good look, but – as I suspect a lot of other people have wondered – could we withstand the level of scrutiny that Robinson has faced? More to the point, how far back in history is bad behavior fair game, and are there different standards for candidates based on their religion, race, or social status? Why hasn’t his party rallied vociferously to his defense, as they would always do with Der Orangefarbenfuhrer? Well, all’s fair in love and politics, I suppose, but others might not see it that way.

Whatever the case, one thing is for certain: the Fascist Party (FP)^[1] has been striving mightily to disenfranchise and demoralize Democrats to keep them from the polls. In many quarters in NC and elsewhere, “Democrats” is code for “Black People”—an overlap that exists with “almost surgical precision”. It seems likely that by one means or another, they’ve made inroads.

As discussed here in weeks past, Trump himself seems unconcerned – detached, even – from his fate at the ballot box. MORE speculation abounds. Some attribute it to his delusion that he has a lock on this election or write it off as further evidence of his cognitive decline. Comments in support of a suspected plot to overthrow the election were offered by him during his MSG rally, when, in introducing MAGA collaborator and House Speaker Mike Johnson, he said:

As the juggernaut that is the American Electoral Process grinds slowly to its conclusion, keep in mind that the Fascists are throwing every wrench at their disposal into the machine. On the local scene, they’ve been filing lawsuits left and right, with the usual poor likelihood of success, but intended to slow the process and gum up the works. North Carolina has an extensive and complicated set of election rules regarding who can complain about what and how. There’s no point in my repeating what WUNC has done a fine job of reviewing; you can find the ins and outs at This Link, Here.

The chances that the Fascists will succeed in throwing the election into the House is concerning. The Constitution provides that if the Presidential election is tied, or if there aren’t sufficient (presumably legitimate) electors to reach a 270-majority, the election is determined by vote of one member of the House from each state. As our friend Jerry pointed out, there’s a good possibility that the Dems will re-take control of the House this cycle. We took some heart in that, until it dawned on us that the House that would be voting on this election is the one currently seated (leans Fascist) and not the ostensibly more liberal one that will take office in January of next year.

CORRECTION: The aforementioned Jerry just emailed to point out that the 2025 House is constitutionally scheduled to convene on January 3, three days before the electoral count for President. I should have checked and didn’t. Cross your fingers and pull your levers for a Democratic congress.

The other possibility – just to throw it out there – is that somehow the election could wind up in front of the Supreme Court, a la Bush v. Gore. The chances that this SCOTUS would rule against Trump are vanishingly small.

For the moment, there’s not much more to be done, other than to vote as if your freedom depends on it. As Jim Wright is fond of saying, if you want a better nation, you must be a better citizen. That, and the Boy Scout motto: Be Prepared.

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^[1] In light of recent events, including Sunday’s reprise of the 1939 Nazi rally at Madison Square Garden,  commentary by persons both formerly and currently within the Trump sphere, and the official perspective from the President, Vice-President, and many others within the ranks of government and military, the Old North State News has decided as a matter of editorial policy that the Republican Party is officially a Fascist cabal that openly endorses dictatorial rule. Thus, our editorial board has determined that from now on, the former “GOP” now will be designated the FP – Fascist Party. Postscript: The ONSN board is pleased to endorse Harris and Walz for President and Vice President.