A man may unsuccessfully attempt a robbery or murder, yet one would rightly see him as a wrongdoer. The failure to achieve an evil end does not absolve those so attempting from moral culpability. See Attempts.
So it is with Trump, now: his attempts to subvert the election through lies and (baseless) lawsuits are no less wrong for their ineptitude. Trump tried and failed at worse – through force against civilians – at Lafayette Square and Portland. Perhaps, in desperation, Trump may yet again order force against civilians.
For now, he maneuvers with mendacity, advancing unworthy claims against the constitutional order:
Giuliani has also told Trump and associates that his ambition is to pressure GOP lawmakers and officials across the political map to stall the vote certification in an effort to have Republican lawmakers pick electors and disrupt the electoral college when it convenes next month — and Trump is encouraging of that plan, according to two senior Republicans who have conferred with Giuliani and spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the matter candidly.
Trump is what those of us in opposition have said he was. One might have hoped for better conduct; if so, it was always a faint hope.
It’s tempting for some to believe that the worst is now behind us. Temptations like that are easily ignored: the worst will be behind us when we put it behind us, not when we wish it to be behind us.