Is it possible that Pat McCrory and Republican legislative leaders are so arrogant, corrupt, crooked and power-crazed that they would try to overrule the people’s decision for Governor?

Gerrymandering was one thing. Voter-suppression was another. Setting aside the clear outcome of the election, without even a fig leaf of legitimacy, to keep McCrory in office against the will of the people as expressed at the ballot box, would strike at the very heart of our government.

It would amount to a coup d’etat. It would rival in infamy the Wilmington race riot of 1898 and the lengths to which Southern whites went then to regain political power.

Do you think House Bill 2 has hurt North Carolina’s economy? Wait until you see how many businesses and jobs North Carolina would lose once the rest of America realizes that Republicans are governing like a Third World despot.

Come the next election, be it 2017 or 2018, there would be one and only one issue: Throw the crooks out.

The public reaction against HB2 was so strong that, even in the face of the Trump tsunami, Democrats in North Carolina won races for Governor, Attorney General, Supreme Court and four legislative seats.

That would pale beside this backlash.

It’s hard to believe that the media is reporting this talk with a straight face and no outrage that McCrory & Co. would even float this scenario.

Democrats may be demoralized by Donald Trump’s election. But this would energize them beyond belief.

It would be a tragic day in North Carolina’s history. And it would be a lasting mark of moral shame for all Republicans here.

Let’s look at the facts:

Roy Cooper has more votes than McCrory.

After all the results were in on Election Day, Cooper led by nearly 5,000 votes. After 10 counties reported their absentee vote totals today, Cooper gained 408 votes, building his lead to 5,387.

Provisional ballots are expected to add to the Cooper lead.

The counties with the most provisional ballots heavily supported Cooper on Election Day. Over the years, provisional ballots statewide have traditionally benefitted the Democratic candidate. These ballots are likely to simply add to Cooper’s margin.

McCrory has underperformed in absentees.

In the counties that have reported additional absentee ballots thus far, McCrory has done worse than he did Election Day. Absentees give him no path to victory.

McCrory is attacking his own appointees.

He is blaming the Durham County and State Boards of Elections for his loss. Both Durham County Board of Election officials and State Board of Elections officials are Republicans. The State Board of Elections was appointed by McCrory himself.

Bill Brian, chairman of the Durham County elections board, said today, “I would like everybody to know that we, as of today, and I say this absolutely with no hesitance, we have seen no evidence whatsoever that there’s any inaccuracy or any problem with any of the returns that were reported on Election Day.”

Any legislative interference in this election would be historic and without precedent.

The 2004 race for Superintendent of Public Instruction revolved around contested ballots of registered voters who voted in the wrong precinct and missing ballots. The legislature’s role was simply to decide whether or not those votes would be counted. There are no such contested ballots in this race.

McCrory should concede.

The candidate with the most votes wins. In North Carolina, many Republicans won this year. But in the race for Governor, Roy Cooper received the most votes and defeated Pat McCrory. Instead of trying to steal an election,  Governor McCrory should bow to the will of the voters.