Having been raised surrounded by Russian culture, I've learned that the Russian brain never comes at you in a straight line, it's always a bank shot. So I began to wonder why this determined effort to blame Ukraine for interference in the 2016 election. And this came to mind.
1) Trump/Russia do everything they can to convince US voters/elected officials that Ukraine (not Russia) interfered in 2016 in order to help the Democratic candidate.
2) Trump loses to a Democratic candidate in 2020 and blames Ukraine for "finishing what they started."
2) Trump loses to a Democratic candidate in 2020 and blames Ukraine for "finishing what they started."
3) In the gap between election and inauguration, Russia invades Ukraine. Trump doesn't object, calling Ukraine an enemy of the American people
4) During the invasion Russia "finds" documents "proving" Ukraine hacked the 2016 *and* the 2020 elections to favor the Democrat
4) During the invasion Russia "finds" documents "proving" Ukraine hacked the 2016 *and* the 2020 elections to favor the Democrat
5) Trump uses this to discourage other allies from helping Ukraine, and reaches out to Putin as "our friend."
6) Trump also uses this, with the assistance of Barr's DOJ (which is already searching for proof of 2016 interference), to invalidate the entire 2020 election
6) Trump also uses this, with the assistance of Barr's DOJ (which is already searching for proof of 2016 interference), to invalidate the entire 2020 election
7) Regardless of whether or not Trump is successful at getting the 2020 results set aside, he has driven a stake through the heart of the American democratic and electoral system. If he stays, the nation is divided; if the Democrat goes in, s/he is considered by many illegitimate
