The situation in WI is straight out of Levitsky & @dziblatt's How Democracies Die. We rely on norms of mutual toleration and forbearance to ensure the peaceful transfer of power. Violating that compact undermines democracy.
As with Trump, most elite Rs nationwide aren't speaking up in favor of these dangerous norm violations, but they're not willing to break from their party to condemn them either. And so we get a kind of tacit acceptance.
Scholars of democratic erosion know how dangerous this situation can be. Will Rs in other states do the same? Will Ds adopt similar tactics? Will GOP base come to demand a similar approach in future? Once partisan goals trump democratic commitments, everything is on the table.
This @smotus quote captures the core of the problem - some Republicans are willing to violate democratic norms to win and the rest dislike Democrats too much (or fear their base too much) to do anything about it psmag.com/news/the-tough… 
Another version of this point from @davidfrum
As with Trump, virtual silence. Negative partisanship is undermining elites’ willingness to stand up for democratic norms
But make sure to read this @MattGlassman312 thread too - important to be precise about what is truly a worrisome escalation (stripping powers of incoming elected officials)
More from @zackbeauchamp. I would only add that these developments are not opposed but closely related - GOP indifference to democracy he describes applies as much to DJT as to WI. And what’s happening there could inspire future erosion at national level.
