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This is going to get very ugly, and I wouldn't rule out violence at the rate McCain and Palin are going.  And now the lynch-mob mentality is spilling over into down-ticket contests.  From last night Georgia Senate race debate between Martin and Chambliss:

Thursday's debate took place in front of a highly partisan crowd in the GOP stronghold of Middle Georgia.

Chambliss supporters waved "Saxby" signs and offered up a sustained "boos" when Martin mentioned Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

"Bomb Obama," one woman hollered.

Wow.

Fortunately, Obama is surging in the polls again, perhaps as a backlash against these insane rallies.  Unfortunately, that's probably just going to make them more insane.

And this stuff isn't making the nightly news -- why, exactly?

Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Fri Oct 10th, 2008 at 12:51:42 PM EST
Well, to be fair, I wouldn't like to be the producer who put someone shouting "bomb Obama" on TV if the publicity then encouraged them to actually go and try it...
by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Fri Oct 10th, 2008 at 01:00:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]
They don't need encouragement.  Better to put it on the air and destroy McCain for allowing it -- even assisting it -- to get so out of control.

Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin
by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Fri Oct 10th, 2008 at 01:42:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Seems to be my day to quote Krugman all day.

Paul Krugman - Op-Ed Columnist - New York Times Blog

The crisis isn't the only scary thing going on. Something very ugly is taking shape on the political scene: as McCain's chances fade, the crowds at his rallies are, by all accounts, increasingly gripped by insane rage.

We've seen this before.

...

What it came down to was that a significant fraction of the American population, backed by a lot of money and political influence, simply does not consider government by liberals (even very moderate liberals) legitimate. Ronald Reagan was supposed to have settled that once and for all.

What happens when Obama is elected? It will be even worse than it was in the Clinton years. For sure there will be crazy accusations, and I wouldn't be surprised to see some violence.

The next few years are going to be very, very tough.

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Fri Oct 10th, 2008 at 03:24:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]
(See my comment below in answer to MarketTrustee, too.)

The Right Wing Hate Groups are seeing their numbers and influence dwindle at the same time their economic situation is deteriorating.  Iraq is teaching a generation war is the normal activity of life -- just like the Black & Tans in Ireland and the Free Corps in the Baltic after World War One.  When these two groups unite, it's going to get ugly.

by ATinNM on Fri Oct 10th, 2008 at 03:31:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Yes. And, so what? US liberals lived in the same country with these madmen, they should know them, they should have expected such post-election behaviour at the very start of the campaign already -- they should be prepared, not scared.

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.
by DoDo on Fri Oct 10th, 2008 at 05:35:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]
By prepared, I don't mean nice words about Change, peace and tolerance, but an intent and plan to dismantle the right-wing hate machine.

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.
by DoDo on Fri Oct 10th, 2008 at 05:37:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]
There isn't any organized Left in the US.  The Democratic Party is as good as it gets.  
by ATinNM on Fri Oct 10th, 2008 at 08:23:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]
dodo
US liberals lived in the same country with these madmen, they should know them, they should have expected such post-election behaviour at the very start of the campaign already -- they should be prepared, not scared.

ATinNM
There isn't any organized Left in the US.
Then the Obama Administration will have to do.  Any post election violence better get both Obama and Biden if any RW plotters are to succeed.  Violence that failed to achieve that result could be a gift, like McVie and Oklahoma City under Clinton.  A good 70% of the country will be appalled.  The full might and power of the state, including the augmented powers obtained by B 43, should be brought to bear against anyone associated in any way with such an act.  Deprive them of liberty and property while simultaneously pointing out those things that are being done that are only possible because of the additional accretion of power to the government under B 43.

They should be very careful to proceed against the core group according to law and statute effective prior to B 43 and then use this as an object lesson why it is extremely unwise to leave such power in the hands of government.  Then push a constitutional amendment through Congress and the state legislatures that re-balances the liberties of the people vs. the powers of the government.  

Such a "teaching moment" could greatly enhance the authority and stature of Obama and restore the intended balance of power in the Constitution to our Government. With convictions in hand, clemency and or commutations of sentence could be considered on an individual basis.  Magnanimity in such a victory would cement Obama's authority and further empower him to make other needed changes.  In such a fashion we might regain a credible left in the USA.  Just call it the new center.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Fri Oct 10th, 2008 at 09:41:54 PM EST
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Agree with you; but I'd rather do without the 168 men, women and small children who died under the rubble of theAlfred P. Murrah Federal Building or the people who died in Atlanta, or the postal workers (mostly African-Americans) who died of anthrax.

I'll be convinced when I see at least as much resources put on domestic terrorism as on the Middle-Eastern variety (not that I'm holding my breath).

Oh, and also look at the financial circuit: the money has to come from somewhere. States who are serious against organized crime do just that: they follow the money and go to the throat.

Europeans think a hundred miles is a long way. Americans think a hundred years is a long time.

by Bernard on Sat Oct 11th, 2008 at 06:10:27 AM EST
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If it only got one of them, it wouldn't be a gift.  I don't want to see people get killed for their political leanings -- yes, even Bush and his lot who I so despise.  This country has an awful history of political violence, and we need to not revisit that in the modern day.  Obama getting killed would, in many ways, set this country back decades, socially.

Fortunately, like I said, I don't think Obama's going to get killed.  Most of the crazies are either going to turn their sights on each other after the election or see that Obama, as president, is not some kind of scary Manchurian candidate.  Plus, most of the assassinations in the 20th Century we're familiar with happened to people who didn't have Secret Service protection.  JFK did, but he was also killed while riding in a convertible out in the open in Dallas with plenty of places for a shooter to hide.

If he'd had proper protection, RFK would not likely have been killed that night in Los Angeles.  It was because of his assassination that the Secret Service was authorized to protect presidential candidates before they became nominees or presidents.

Reagan was nearly killed, but at the same time his would-be assassin would probably never have gotten that close in 2008, since presidents generally only get that close to the public under tightly-controlled circumstances these days.

And I certainly don't think Biden's going to get killed.  Nobody really hates him.  Even the wingers respect Biden as being a legitimate adversary, probably because such a large chunk of the country -- definitely anyone who is a political junkie -- has known Biden forever.

Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Sat Oct 11th, 2008 at 10:39:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I too would prefer that we take our chances on the pace of reform, if any, than that progress be purchased with human lives sacrificed to political violence.  Collectively, we have quite enough blood on our hands already.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Sat Oct 11th, 2008 at 04:29:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]
It's the Republicans who are scared.  They've slipped from roughly a tie to being down 8-10 points in the presidential.  They're slipping in every Senate race (we could win up to 12 if things got really fun).  They're on the verge of coughing up another 30-40 House seats, which would be crushing.

Three weeks ago, they thought they were going to win.  Now, suddenly, they're getting beat like a rented mule.  The worse the beating, the more they'll lash out.

Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Fri Oct 10th, 2008 at 05:39:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Not afraid of those Repub/conservative pussies.

Guns?  Bah.  Piss off a talented chemist/biochemist ... see what you get!

Fuck em!

In the end, might makes right. Nothing has changed since the caveman.

by THE Twank (yatta blah blah @ blah.com) on Fri Oct 10th, 2008 at 05:56:55 PM EST
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That's okay.  Caribou Barbie's going to be dropping the puck at a Philadelphia Flyers game apparently.

These are the fans who booed and threw shit at Santa Claus.  It could be truly awesome.

Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Fri Oct 10th, 2008 at 05:49:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Sounds interesting. Please, keep us posted.

Europeans think a hundred miles is a long way. Americans think a hundred years is a long time.
by Bernard on Sat Oct 11th, 2008 at 06:11:53 AM EST
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Just like the gay marriage ruling in Massachusetts, Obama's election will drive the poles of the culture war even further apart.

you are the media you consume.

by MillMan (millguy at gmail) on Fri Oct 10th, 2008 at 01:05:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]
It's a challenge to recount the violence perpetrated by the state in order to "contain" political opposition, no matter how innocuous, to its developing calumny. It's even easier to sieze an MSM factotum of electoral theater in order to foment dramatic tension. Such people are everywhere in mainstream media. Many have already published books.

Tell us more about the "Change we need" that is denoument. Say, Obama/Biden is elected. How will you adapt to the conclusion of the tale?

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Oct 10th, 2008 at 03:13:36 PM EST
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In all seriousness, I expect Obama to win the election and be assassinated during his first term.  And the beat goes on.  There is no conclusion.  There are only reference points we call an ending.
by ATinNM on Fri Oct 10th, 2008 at 03:26:47 PM EST
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I don't expect him to be assassinated, although I do expect attempts will be made.  They already have, I'd guess.

God help us all if he does get killed.  I'll be joining you out West in that case.

What concerns me is this is the same shit that was done to MLK and Bobby Kennedy in the '60s.  Stoke hatred, call them traitors/communists/radicals/terrorists, and thus dehumanize them and provide the psychological cover for the wackos, allowing them to believe they're doing it to "save the country" or something.

I expect, however, they're going to set their sights on each other after this election.  You can already see that brewing when you read the words of people like George Will and David Brooks.  Thing is, I don't think they're going to win the battle for the soul of their party.  And the people they'll be up against will be the truly insane.

Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Fri Oct 10th, 2008 at 05:21:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]
We can always use another intelligent person with good sense.

In the end, might makes right. Nothing has changed since the caveman.
by THE Twank (yatta blah blah @ blah.com) on Fri Oct 10th, 2008 at 05:59:22 PM EST
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As Lawrence O'Donnell and Howard Fineman predicted, McCain is walking it back now, telling psychotic supporters that Obama is "a decent person," a "decent family man," and that they "do not have to be scared of him as President of the United States."

I'm sure that has nothing to do with the massive backlash that hit among the talking heads during the afternoon, or with the fact that McCain seems to be tanking so badly in the polls that Caribou Barbie is being sent to defend West Virginia with rallies.

Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Fri Oct 10th, 2008 at 07:30:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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