As the Trump-GOP scheme to gerrymander the midterms suddenly faces big new setbacks, a Democratic operative who’s leading in these fights explains why the battle isn’t over—and what must happen now.

A panel of judges just blocked the GOP gerrymander in Texas, which had added five seats. In Indiana, Republicans currently lack the votes to redraw their congressional map.

Trump is angry about all this. He lashed out at Indiana Republicans, threatening primaries and calling one opponent “weak” and “pathetic.”

So is the scheme dead? No. Several aspects of it still remain unresolved. The Texas seats are in doubt, but that’s being appealed, and Republicans have added four other seats. Meanwhile, Democrats are adding five in California and one in Utah.

  • tornavish@lemmy.cafe
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    5
    arrow-down
    4
    ·
    13 hours ago

    I have to disagree entirely. There are around 2 million military personnel, if you include the national guard. A quarter of that is more than enough. Also, zero people will fight back. People love to talk tough, but at the end of the day we all know no one will do anything about it.

    Once he gets backed into a corner, he will utilize martial law.

    Any business as usual nonsense is just fed speak

    • Frezik@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      13 hours ago

      It won’t work if the military isn’t actively visible on the street. You can take the entirety of those 2M troops and deploy them to New York City, and it will start feeling like they’re visible.

      Combine that with a lot of troops who don’t want to be there and will sandbag their job.

      • tornavish@lemmy.cafe
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        5
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        13 hours ago

        Martial law doesn’t need to control the people, it needs to control the government. Martial law doesn’t need tanks on the street. I already said that people aren’t going to fight back. The military force would simply be to shut down government officials who think they are still in control. It will only take making an example of one or two people – probably Newsom – And everyone will fall in line.

        Then Trump has full control over local governments. Over the next few years they will appoint people into local positions. After a few years it will essentially be a different country.

          • tornavish@lemmy.cafe
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            0
            arrow-down
            3
            ·
            11 hours ago

            lol, that video.

            Trump would start by declaring a sweeping national emergency, framing it as a crisis that demands fast, centralized action. Then he’d invoke the Insurrection Act and send federal troops along with National Guard units into key areas around the country. (Half way there already!)

            After that, he’d announce that the military is temporarily taking over certain functions, calling it a necessary form of “martial law.” The Court, already in his favor, would agree saying the executive has broad authority in emergencies, la la.

            With that, federal agencies and military commanders would begin controlling local governments and police forces, asserting control over movement, infrastructure, public order, etc.

            Congress might protest, but with the Court consistently siding with the president in this situation, the national and military administrators run things with very little pushback.

            Wham, bam, thank you non-voter.

            • Frezik@lemmy.blahaj.zone
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              2
              ·
              9 hours ago

              And then it would all far apart. You’re making the same mistake they do, which is thinking they can steamroll reality.

              Listen to the people with actual military experience. It does not work that way.

              • tornavish@lemmy.cafe
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                1
                arrow-down
                2
                ·
                9 hours ago

                Falling apart has nothing to do with making it happen. They can make it happen, but the following apart will not be because of military or civilian intervention in the form of a revolt or a coup. It will fall apart naturally because of incompetence.

                And, regarding military experience: I have found that the majority of people who have entered the military have very limited education. And even if they do go to college afterwards, that college doesn’t cover martial law. So it’s quite silly to suggest that I should take a veteran’s word for it, because chances are they’d know even less than I do.

                Everyone in the military will fall in line like a little bitch, how they always do. Anyone who fights back will be court-martialed.

                • Frezik@lemmy.blahaj.zone
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  1
                  ·
                  8 hours ago

                  Do you have any clue whatsoever how much education it takes to become an officer?

                  Stop digging. Stop ascribing abilities to Trump that he doesn’t have. He is not infinitely powerful, but he would like you to think that.

                  • tornavish@lemmy.cafe
                    link
                    fedilink
                    English
                    arrow-up
                    1
                    ·
                    5 hours ago

                    Instead of asking the question, why don’t you tell me how much education it takes to become an officer… At the minimum… And then I will Fact check you. I say it doesn’t require anything and all those fucking jarheads are sucking Trump‘s dick just like he sucked Bill Clinton‘s.

                    I’m not digging at all. I’m also not talking about Trump‘s abilities alone. I’m talking about how The majority of the government will go along with the plan that is not just Donald Trump’s.

                    To me, you sound like a fucking fed.