This election is now tainted beyond redemption. It was bad enough before this recent info came out, but by this point, is there ANYBODY left in the US that isn't looking at this with at least some distrust or concern? Thing is, other than the EC, there IS no remedy available in the Constitution for this scenario that I can dredge up from my memory. (Certainly, as a former Con Law Prof, Obama has a better grasp than I do, but I am durned if I'm seeing anything...)
I think Obama faces a hell of a dilemma at this point. I think his first step is already underway, with the order for the investigation. That information absolutely must be presented completely and with no redaction to the entire US public, and it needs to be presented prior to the Electoral College convening. IF they have convincing evidence, I believe the EC is probably the only avenue available to either correct or accept the election outcome. In the absence of evidence, I think the EC may well turn this back to the legislature to decide, and even THAT is potentially suspect given the fact that McConnell and a few others are looking complicit in some way or another.
The other steps that Obama can or even should take all hinge on what that investigation turns up and how convincing it is. If they have the evidence and it is beyond question, I think the US makes a trip to the UN and lays it all out there. Let the UN navigate it and set terms for remediation. I do think tat the Ambassadors need to be "confined to quarters" pending the UN decisions, but I'm not sure there's anything positive to be gained from booting anybody out of the country or shutting down all direct diplomatic channels.
Something else that is at work here, is the realization that a large percentage of the public simply doesn't grasp exactly how radical this incursion was. Finding a few Russians standing in an office holding flashlights while looking through a file cabinet is a lot more tangible to a lot of people. A Russian operative kicking in the door to the State Board of Elections scares hell out of people, but saying files were hacked sounds like less of a big deal to a lot of people. Same net result, but the images are vastly different. The mental image of a band of Russians running running in to a polling place and jamming a bunch of ballots into a ballot box is a lot more visceral that the image of some hacker typing for a while on a keyboard and flipping some numbers. Again--same outcome. The idea that maybe somebody is pulling strings on Congressmen is equally creepy, and I'm not sure even THAT aspect of this mess has fully hit home yet.
First step is get the evidence out in front of the people.
Laura
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