Brain Worms

 The argument against banning Trump from the ballot tend to fall along one of several different lines.

One argument is that Trump has not been convicted of leading an insurrection. That's probably the strongest argument, and I would think that's one that the Supreme Court will lean on to void Colorado's decision. Of course, the case in Colorado ruled that he had engaged in an insurrection...which is a form of due process conviction. Still, even Jack Smith hasn't charged Trump with insurrection, because that's presumably a higher bar to clear.

The other arguments seem pretty specious to me. The "ripe for abuse" one is just doomposting. For all the very many problems with our Courts, they have generally protected us from Trumpist attacks on democracy. The idea that a conservative judge might bar Biden for running because he visited a picket line and they draw a false equivalency is just nonsense. As odious as the Taliban Six are on the Court, they aren't that tortured in their rulings (unless it's against women).

The single most ridiculous argument is that this actually helps Trump get elected. Again, there's a learned helplessness here, where pundits look at how Trump has survived scandals that would sink any other politician and presume that he succeeds because of those scandals. We will get the same bullshit arguments should a jury find Trump guilty this spring in Smith's January 6th case. But if that happens - please Dog, let it happen - then Trump's support will likely crater among independents and swing voters. Most people don't examine all the evidence surrounding 1/6, but if Trump is in actual prison...how do you vote for that guy unless you're in Cult 45?

There's a final argument that barring Trump from the ballot could unleash right wing terrorism, as his perfervid acolytes respond to their inability to bow before their golden calf by shooting up America. First of all, America is doing a fine job of shooting itself up already, thank you. Secondly, if you refuse to hold the Trumpist Right accountable because you fear violence, then the terrorism has already worked and we don't have a democracy anymore.