In 2024, Donald Trump is planning to turn the Big Lie into the Big Fix

There’s a scene in Mel Brooks’ “Blazing Saddles,” the dialogue of which has been applied to many, many different scenarios. The local banditry is being deputized. As they are presented with their credentials, they reply, “We don’t need no stinking badges.” Uproarious laughter ensures.

Envision Donald Trump beginning his 2024 campaign. His aides and minions are laying out a strategy to win as many votes as possible in the coming months. Trump responds, “I don’t need no stinking votes.” Again, laughter ensues.

You see, in the mind of Donald Trump, votes will be irrelevant in the 2024 election. The man is expecting to be made President regardless of the number of votes he does or doesn’t receive.

Trump will indeed campaign because there’s nothing that gets his blood going more than a campaign rally. Oh wait, let me restate; there’s nothing that gets his blood going more than money. And when Trump campaigns, people give him money. Corporations give him money. And if you are Donald Trump, you can do whatever you want with that money, especially once you are installed as president. So yes, Trump will appear to be concerned with a campaign and the basic requirements of vote getting. But that’s all it will be, an appearance, a show. Because in his heart and his mind, he is counting on the fix.

And what a fix it will be. This is going to be the ultimate grift. The big con. We’ve been dealing with the Big Lie since November of 2020. We need to prepare and start worrying about The Big Fix.

It is a multifaceted fix with red state legislatures enacting restrictions they hope will cut down on certain demographic turnouts. Those same governing bodies are installing partisan state election officials and giving themselves the power to throw out votes and switch electors. Of course the most concerning component of The Big Fix is the mob. Specifically mob violence and the threat of mob violence. If the machinations leading to a contested election are successful, there is the mob, ready and willing to push the last vestige of democracy over the edge. Bloodshed? Riots and pitched battles to “decide” who will be the next President of the United States? Can’t happen here, you might be thinking. Be assured there are people who are staking their political lives on it happening here.

Trump himself is the architect of The Big Fix, convincing people that our elections are corrupt, fraudulent and not to be trusted. Understand, that each and every person that believes there is something seriously wrong with our elections came to that conclusion the instant Donald Trump first blew that smoke out his hindquarters.

The Big Lie has consumed us since November. Now, however, we need to wake up to The Big Fix. He might look like he’s campaigning, but he’s just going through the motions. Playing the part of a candidate. It’s all for show. He’s a dictator in candidates clothes. And he don’t need no stinking votes.

Ross DeAeth is a former radio announcer, copywriter and a retired educator.

This story was originally published October 29, 2021 at 9:31 AM.