Ain’t no thought exercise like a Chris Cillizza thought exercise:

Imagine this: Trump narrowly loses — by 20-ish electoral votes — in 2020. He refuses to concede, insists there has been widespread election fraud and notes that Democrats (and the media) have been trying to steal from him since he was elected in 2016.https://t.co/39KP0xgaRM — Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) May 6, 2019

This is Real News, Mr. President:

It’s not much of a stretch then to imagine that Trump, if he does come up short in the 2020 election, wouldn’t be willing to simply go quietly into that good night. For Trump, refusing to admit defeat and hand over power voluntarily would be the final sacred cow he could slaughter. He’s built a political career on a willingness to break with long-held traditions, the venerated elements of our capital “D” democracy that have long distinguished us from the rest of the world. Trump scoffs at all that sort of stuff, the trappings, he would argue, of an arcane system put in place by elites who can’t channel the will of the people like he can. If you think that’s overstating things, it’s worth noting that Trump has repeatedly “joked” about changing the Constitution to allow him to serve more than two terms as president.

He’s joked about it? Oh. Well. We should probably just impeach him, then, to make sure he doesn’t completely unilaterally overhaul the Constitution.

More:

Now, close your eyes and imagine this: Trump narrowly loses — by 20-ish electoral votes — in 2020. He refuses to concede, insists there has been widespread election fraud and notes that Democrats (and the media) have been trying to steal from him since he was elected in 2016. Doesn’t seem all that outlandish, does it?

If it doesn’t seem outlandish, that’s only because this hypothetical Donald Trump situation has already happened:

So basically he acts like Hillary https://t.co/priZEC5HF3 — TheRightWingM ?? (@TheRightWingM) May 6, 2019

Basically.

So, refusing to concede an election is… bad? https://t.co/IeRxFt801e — Some guy tweeted something ??‍♂️ (@jtLOL) May 6, 2019

Right?

So you're asking what if he pulls an Abrams? https://t.co/EPc1i01DsS — Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) May 6, 2019

Imagine this. A Democrat loses a tough southern governor's race. She complains about laws passed by Democrats that cheated her. She says "I won" many times. She says the race was "stolen." And Democrats have her do the State of the Union response. https://t.co/lz1wymcKAY — David Rutz (@DavidRutz) May 6, 2019

Seems Cillizza should make sure his own Democratic house is in order before throwing stones at Trump.

Imagine this: Clowns at CNN create fictional scenarios like this — in 2019. They do it to deflect from having to write about Democrat candidates ACTUALLY saying this now. https://t.co/yhluPdCZ9s — Johnny Two Belts (@brodigan) May 6, 2019

Do you seriously not recognize that Democrats are doing this right now? pic.twitter.com/yJBjDothRs — Andrew Follett (@AndrewCFollett) May 6, 2019

FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK… DEMS ARE DOING THIS RIGHT NOW! — JRP (@JRPSD) May 6, 2019

This from the people who refuse to accept 2016. Rich. #2016Deniers — Tivis Sutherland (@tivissutherland) May 6, 2019

Now do Democrats who are refusing to concede the actual results of actual elections in 2016 and 2018. https://t.co/OujpmaDj2k — Ken Gardner (@KenGardner11) May 6, 2019

GP To be fair, Democrats (and the media) have been trying to steal the election from Trump since he was elected in 2016. https://t.co/2pomzO20kR — The Gormogons (@Gormogons) May 6, 2019

Imagine this: Trump wins in 2016, by 77 electoral votes. Democrats try to insist his election was illegitimate, then the media helps the Dems project onto Republicans everything they're guilty of doing. https://t.co/fsWMJXAJC1 — Doug Powers (@ThePowersThatBe) May 6, 2019

The lack of self awareness here is comical — Jimmy (@jrichardlusk) May 6, 2019

Cillizza’s problem may not be self-awareness, at least not in this case. It’s entirely possible that he’s perfectly aware that the Democrats are the ones in denial, but he just can’t bring himself to hold them accountable for it, so he’s opting instead to run interference for them because that’s just what he does.

I guess filling that continual 24-hour 'news' cycle is hard over @CNN — Michael Brown (@mrb137) May 6, 2019

Imagine this: CNN reports facts instead of fantasy. HRC says the election she lost was stolen from her… Dems want to dismantle the Electoral College when they lose in it… but Cillizza offers this fantasy based in nothing but his anti-Trump mentality. https://t.co/sk63hn2cjG — (((Jason Rantz))) on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) May 6, 2019

My favorite genre of news cycle happening right now are supposed super serious journos hypothesizing events about not conceding elections a year from now while ignoring Democrats actually out right now not conceding elections. https://t.co/E0aKPLjFqL — Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) May 6, 2019

Literally right now, the 2016 election loser and someone who is top of the list to be a VP nomination in 2020 are out NOT conceding their election losses almost daily and the press are talking about a hypothetical with Trump, to avoid addressing it. — Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) May 6, 2019

Let's see @CillizzaCNN criticize Stacey Abrams, and all those that agree with her, on the air. Then I'll take this seriously. https://t.co/9YILfQr6nn — Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) May 6, 2019

Chris Cillizza and his fellow firefighters wouldn’t dare. So unless hell freezes over, don’t plan on taking this — or any of Cillizza’s “journalism” — seriously.

Imagine this: the states announce the count in December, the electors vote then vote, and new Congress certifies the vote in January. That's it. That's what will happen. Trump can tweet madly all he wants. But tweets can't stop the process. Journos are indulging a pre-panic. https://t.co/OvuGh0jQ15 — Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) May 6, 2019

We have a Constitution. It's not that big of a deal. The Electoral College votes and that's it. The winner becomes President in January 20. But I imagine stirring up this kind of panic is good for clicks and sales. https://t.co/fW6lvs8k0f — Crotchety Old Nathan Wurtzel (@NathanWurtzel) May 6, 2019

That’s all this has ever been about. The media are doing whatever they can to stay relevant, and that includes making asses of themselves on a regular basis.

They know their jobs have nothing to do with reporting and everything to do with protecting the Democrats — and their own horrible reputation. They’ll grasp at any straw they can find in order to avoid taking responsibility for their role in propelling Trump into the White House in 2016 and to pre-emptively avoid taking responsibility for ensuring he wins another term.