If Stacey Abrams were to run now and lose by 50,000 votes, you can be sure it will be because of voter suppression and widespread cheating, not because she lost fair and square.
Republicans would have a better shot at the Messaging War if they focused less on what they were against and more what they were for (policy-wise, not personality-wise). They've been losing this war since 2017 when their effective message of "Repeal and Replace" was shown to be "Repeal and ???". Since then, the party's doubled-down on Trumpism and in primaries across the nation, candidates are trying to outdo themselves to show themselves as the Trumpiest in hopes of securing that coveted Mar-a-Lago endorsement.
As soon as Republicans are smart enough to excise the Trump tumor (and I credit the Racket folks for having good heads on their shoulders in this respect), and start talking for what they're FOR - maybe things like encouraging initiative, entrepreneurship, responsibility, and commitments to local communities - instead of yelling what they're AGAINST - cancel culture, trans-rights, Big Tech - then perhaps folks will pay attention to them as their message will be more interesting and compelling than it's been since the end of the election. (That's not to say that the GOP should abandon what they're against, but that shouldn't be the headlines they lead with.)
On the Georgia voting front - if you're looking for another article idea - there may be an interesting question to dive into why Georgia's getting so much attention, while other Red States are also attempting to reform their elections? Is it mainly because Stacy Abrams is good at drawing attention her way? Is it because GA's under heightened scrutiny because the national GOP was so intent (and sloppy) to change the election outcome last cycle? Or is it because GA's reforms are unique from other states that it stands out? (The last one I doubt very much and you allude to with references to similar provisions in NY and Blue State laws.)
To sum up, the reason the GOP is failing is mainly because they lack compelling alternatives to the policies the Biden administration is pushing. We don't know what a GOP-led infrastructure bill would look like, but we know how well the senior members of Congress (who should be working on such things) can read "Green Eggs and Ham". Until the Trump/Gaetz/Cawthorne media-driven grievance message is smothered, the GOP has no hope of having anyone listen to them who isn't already a true believer.
Raffensperger exceeded his authority when he signed a consent order that violated the law. Fulton County is notably corrupt and its vote tally should have been investigated. I think you pretty much said this but it bears repeating. These are axioms like the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. There is no messaging or spinning axioms. They are the very basics of language and people who lie about the basics or refuse to accept foundational principles do not deserve to be included in the discussion. Unfortunately those people get a vote and they vote for equally foolish politicians.
Republicans would have a better shot at the Messaging War if they focused less on what they were against and more what they were for (policy-wise, not personality-wise). They've been losing this war since 2017 when their effective message of "Repeal and Replace" was shown to be "Repeal and ???". Since then, the party's doubled-down on Trumpism and in primaries across the nation, candidates are trying to outdo themselves to show themselves as the Trumpiest in hopes of securing that coveted Mar-a-Lago endorsement.
As soon as Republicans are smart enough to excise the Trump tumor (and I credit the Racket folks for having good heads on their shoulders in this respect), and start talking for what they're FOR - maybe things like encouraging initiative, entrepreneurship, responsibility, and commitments to local communities - instead of yelling what they're AGAINST - cancel culture, trans-rights, Big Tech - then perhaps folks will pay attention to them as their message will be more interesting and compelling than it's been since the end of the election. (That's not to say that the GOP should abandon what they're against, but that shouldn't be the headlines they lead with.)
On the Georgia voting front - if you're looking for another article idea - there may be an interesting question to dive into why Georgia's getting so much attention, while other Red States are also attempting to reform their elections? Is it mainly because Stacy Abrams is good at drawing attention her way? Is it because GA's under heightened scrutiny because the national GOP was so intent (and sloppy) to change the election outcome last cycle? Or is it because GA's reforms are unique from other states that it stands out? (The last one I doubt very much and you allude to with references to similar provisions in NY and Blue State laws.)
To sum up, the reason the GOP is failing is mainly because they lack compelling alternatives to the policies the Biden administration is pushing. We don't know what a GOP-led infrastructure bill would look like, but we know how well the senior members of Congress (who should be working on such things) can read "Green Eggs and Ham". Until the Trump/Gaetz/Cawthorne media-driven grievance message is smothered, the GOP has no hope of having anyone listen to them who isn't already a true believer.
I think the Democrats are winning cos they've got hold of the space lasers.
Agreed, it wasn't going to happen but the situation was not going to become disastrously worse as it is now.
Raffensperger exceeded his authority when he signed a consent order that violated the law. Fulton County is notably corrupt and its vote tally should have been investigated. I think you pretty much said this but it bears repeating. These are axioms like the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. There is no messaging or spinning axioms. They are the very basics of language and people who lie about the basics or refuse to accept foundational principles do not deserve to be included in the discussion. Unfortunately those people get a vote and they vote for equally foolish politicians.