You mistake my comment for an opinion on what the Constitution allows. I said that to win with 226 would be “Forcing the win on legal grounds”, which by definition means that the Constitution would permit Trump to win the election if California and NY are not counted because they failed to meet a deadline set in Congressional legislation. I have no problems with it, but that would definitely set the sensibilities of the muddle-headed middle afire, and divide the country in a dangerous way.
If the Democrat has 215, and California with its 55 electoral votes is not counted, that would clearly make the Republican a winner even though the Democrat has actually won. I think we can all concede that the Democrat will win California in a landslide this year. The illegal votes may add to the margin, but the margin will be significant without them. We would look like a banana republic, and we sure as hell could not count on the Supreme Court to follow the Constitution strictly instead of finding a way to count California.
So, instead of putting hope in legalistic, off the wall possibilities, focus on the real threat of vote fraud in the states that Trump needs to get to 270, and make sure that we have done all we can in those states so that whatever they do in their blue states, Trump still wins. In a fair election, Trump gets 320 or more electoral votes. Let’s ensure 270 at least so the only thing we are worrying about is the margin of victory.
I agree with your last paragraph; 270 makes it a moot point.
(Best way to do that is steal a couple of blue states with large blue-collar union populations.)
You don’t get it yet. We ARE a banana republic. You are right, it would be disastrous, but if that’s the best we can do then take and ooorah ooorah ooorah pray for war.