Denise, I too am mystified by the same things in your essay. The implications for the WORLD as well as the country are devastating.

One thing that really stumps me. This is a given: The MAGAs will be out in droves to vote for Trump, with no questions asked.

Another group, not MAGAs, but these people are extremely disappointed with Biden, so much so, that they plan to protest by doing one of 3 things:
1. Staying home and not voting,
2. writing another name on the ballot,
3. Voting for a third party.

I wish this last mentioned “protest” group above would understand that any of those three “protest” actions means a vote for Trump. “Why,” they ask?

Mainly because ( as I wrote at the beginning of this comment) Trump’s hard and medium-hard and light-hard base will NOT waiver and will not do those three “protest” actions. These MAGAs will all vote Trump while the other “protest” votes, noted above, will reduce Biden’s chances and then Trump wins because of all those doing #1, #2, and #3.

I know you know these points I make, Denise, but I think it is also good to see this when others read your comments.

Here’s a special request: If it worked for you and your writing plans, It would be wonderful if you decided to write an essay on this exact topic of dangerous-to-democracy “protest” voting actions. A lot of people do not seem to understand the obvious implications of #1 ,2 and 3 above.

While you do an excellent job on these topics, politics are not my “writing thing”. Except for comments! 🙄

Or…hmmmm…Unless when SOME voters embrace one of the “three protest actions above” that is a conscious but passive way for an individual to “vote for Trump” but say that they didn’t… Surely I am just overthinking this one? ( and no wonder my thought went there just now, these are disturbing times, to say the very least)