Walter, your analysis here of the ordeal we just squeezed through is probably the clearest explanation I have read so far.
As for the vulnerability of our system, let's admit that the pandemic backed us into a corner from which it was very difficult to administer an election.
The respective states' implementation of Mail-in voting came along, unfortuntately, as a very awkward arrangement that was not readily verifiable.
The legislatures generally did a commendable job of making these adaptations for assuring access to all voters, but the unexpectedly late newness of verifications for mail-in came along with some inherent weakness.
Trump's opportunistic manipulation of that largely untested link in our electoral system took everybody by surprise.
He knew long before the election that these mail and absentee issues would be prevalent in the cities, and in black precincts, so he started spewing his venom to cast doubt upon the results in Penn, Mich, etc.
His plan actually worked somewhat, but not enough to make the difference.
We can thank our Judges and Justices for their decisive, prompt judgements.
President Biden ought to give Chris Krebs his old job back, so that between now and 2024, we have all these pandemic-related wrinkles regarding distancing, long lines etc, fine-tuned for more obvious accountability and visibility.
No more strange videos of suitcases under tables, etc.
Last point, the last three Supreme Court appointed Justices deserve a little more respect than you afford them. The mere possibility of them violating Judicial integrity for Trump's wildly imagined redemption at the hands of their presumed intervention-- that whole scenario was in donald trump's mind.
Even these "conservative" Justices have more character than you afford them. They did, after, do the right thing, and quite promptly.
Lastly, we need to, once and for all get rid of the damned Electoral College. A Constitutional amendment is arduous and complicated, but we, as a nation updating our system to 21st-century reality, need to do it.
