They call themselves “Hamilton Electors.” “They” are a couple of dissident Republicans, Michael Baca of Colorado and Bret Chiafalo of Washington, and a D.C. public relations firm.

The “electors” are a mostly theoretical set of Republicans who would defect from Trump to deny the president-elect the 270 votes he needs to take the oath of office next month.

“Hamilton” is, of course, Alexander Hamilton – founding father, “bastard brat of a Scotch peddler,” toast of Broadway and, most relevant to our discussion, author of Federalist 68.

The Federalist Papers, as they’re commonly known, are a collection of 85 newspaper editorials authored in 1787 and 1788 by Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay using the pseudonym “Publius,” making the case to ratify the Constitution we know and mostly love today.

Remember, the U.S. is not a democracy, strictly speaking. We’re a republic. We have a Constitution written to keep the worst popular political impulses in check.…

The “Hamilton Electors” claim Trump is just the sort of low man the Founders wanted to guard against. But their case is thin, and their remedy would do far more violence to the constitutional government they claim to revere than simply letting the process run its usual course.

Besides, these guys would need a miracle.