When was this supposed time when they were playing by the rules?
circa 1770
Mail in voting, canvassing nursing homes for feeble minded voters, homeless given vouchers or money for their votes,
stuffing ballot boxes, bussing in the homeless to vote,
same day registrations, motor voter laws,
census that count bodies not citizens, or estimate bodies.
The 17th amendment making the U.S. more democratic instead of protecting the republic.
the 1960 and 2020 stolen elections. .
“When was this supposed time when they were playing by the rules?”
They’ve been playing Calvinball, which involves spontaneous rules that are never the same twice. Of course establishment GOP and media never call them on it.
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Calvinball