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Marche on US Election Crisis
Analysis of Stephen Marche's "The Last Election", exploring the risk of a US constitutional crisis and military coup following a contested 2025 election.
German
Germany
PoliticsUs PoliticsElectionDemocracyCoupConstitutional Crisis
Us CongressNew York TimesElectoral College
Stephen MarcheAndrew YoungDonald TrumpKamala HarrisElon Musk
- What is a contingent election, and what historical precedent does Marche cite?
- A contingent election occurs when the Electoral College fails to produce a clear winner, potentially due to unverified electors or states refusing to send their electors. This happened in 1824, resulting in backroom deals to decide the presidency, highlighting a constitutional weakness that could be exploited.
- Why does Marche believe the 2025 US Presidential Election is likely to be contested?
- Marche believes the 2025 election will be contested due to low public confidence in the US democracy, with many Americans believing the system does not represent the people's will. This lack of legitimacy would exacerbate any close election result and undermine public faith in the outcome.
- How does Marche characterize Trumpism, and does he view it as a direct path to fascism?
- Marche doesn't believe a Trump presidency would lead to outright fascism. While acknowledging Trump's dangerous actions and rhetoric, Marche argues that Trump's actions primarily stem from narcissism and a desire for attention, rather than a systematic plan for totalitarian control.
- What is the central scenario explored in Stephen Marche and Andrew Young's book "The Last Election"?
- Stephen Marche's book, "The Last Election," explores the possibility of a military coup in the US if the 2025 presidential election results are contested. He argues that a close election could trigger a constitutional crisis, leading to a lack of legitimate authority.
- Does Marche believe the US is vulnerable to a totalitarian takeover, and what factors mitigate this risk?
- Marche argues that the US Constitution is designed to prevent power concentration, making it difficult for even a determined figure like Trump to establish a totalitarian regime. The US's inherent ungovernability, stemming from its design, provides some protection against such an eventuality.