"There is More Than One Way",

we are told, "To skin a cat".

Perhaps. Personally, I have never witnessed a cat skinning, and have no idea why anyone would want to skin a kitty. Even naughty Johnny Flynn, who "threw poor pussy in" (the well) did not first skin the cat!

Likewise, there is more than one way to win an election. You can throw your ideas out there and try to persuade voters that they are the correct ideas. Or, you can just steal the election.

Stealing elections has been done in various ways. They once stuffed ballot boxes at the precinct. And, they managed to count votes from deceased persons. But that is so yesteryear. Like a Model "T" Ford.

I am reminded of Pearl Harbor. Having been attacked surreptitiously by aircraft carriers loaded with dive bombers we spent 70 years guarding against a recurrence, only to be attacked by a different sort of enemy, using domestic airliners on September 11, 2001.

Today, elections are stolen in a very different way. First, with the help of a sympathetic news media, you destroy all possible opponents.

First target: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Embroil him in a scandal, in which he denies involvement. He will probably be proven innocent, but no matter, Christie's approval rating has plummeted.

Next, former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell. Embroil him in a scandal of accepting gifts, quid pro quo, which he denies. He will probably be proven innocent, but no matter. The damage is done.

Next, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. Take his inopportune comments out of context and accuse him of speaking in degradation of women. He did not, but no matter. The firestorm has begun.

And, think what this is doing to the brand: three Republican governors involved in scandals.

As you destroy possible opponents, you take out any who may present a truth that will defame your candidate. Comes Dinesh D'Souza, producer of the highly acclaimed documentary film "2016. Obama's America", now accused of an illegal campaign contribution to Senate hopeful Wendy Long.

He will probably be proven innocent, but no matter. His movie-making activities will be seriously curtailed, as he is now embroiled in a long, expensive fight to prove his innocence.

Finally, you just watch as compliant media publicize/glorify your candidate:

Newspaper Editor Paul Greenberg recently wrote,  "As the country has discovered from time to all too frequent time in our history. As on September 11, 2001. Or, for that matter, December 7, 1941. Each time, after this sleeping giant has awakened and struck back in full force and righteous fury, the giant tends to doze off again till the next shock hits him".

We vow to defend against ballot box stuffing and dead voters. Republicans fight those tactics, vigorously pushing voter ID. That's dozing off. The new kinds of election theft are already at work.