The Coming Post-Election Chaos | John Dean

[Robbie67]

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1022-34.htm

Published on Friday, October 22, 2004 by FindLaw.com

(A Storm Warning of Things to Come If the Vote Is as Close as Expected)
by John W. Dean

This next presidential election, on November 2, may be followed by post-election chaos unlike any we've ever known

Look at the swirling, ugly currents currently at work in this conspicuously close race. There is Republicans' history of going negative to win elections. There is Karl Rove's disposition to challenge close elections in post-election brawls. And there is Democrats' (and others) new unwillingness to roll over, as was done in 2000. Finally, look at the fact that a half-dozen lawsuits are in the works in the key states and more are being developed.

This is a climate for trouble. A storm warning is appropriate. In the end, attorneys and legal strategy could prove as important, if not more so, to the outcome of this election as the traditional political strategists and strategy.

Let's go over each factor that spells trouble - and see how they may combine.

<snip>

more at link

[NMDemDist2]

1. all the more reason we need a landslide

GOTV people!

[glitch]

2. Kerry campaign needs to pay very close attention to John Dean

he knows first hand what they're capable of.

[Robbie67]

3. I think both sides know what to expect

I'd bet that both sides have been preparing for this for years.

[grasswire]

4. oboy

"It does not seem to trouble either Rove or Bush that they are moving us toward a Twenty-first Century civil war -- and that, once again, Southern conservatism is at its core. Only a miracle, it strikes me, can prevent this election from descending into post-election chaos. But given the alternatives, a miracle is what I am hoping for."

[Raster]

5. My greatest hope is that this election has the largest turnout in history.

...and that the people resounding tell $hrubco THEY ARE FIRED. No ifs, ands or supreme courts. And you know, I believe it's going to happen.

[Strawman]

6. I don't know. I can't imagine there being uncertainty past December

I generally agree with this article, and sadly I would not be at all surprised if the outcome was uncertain again into December, but saying "if Karl Rove is on the losing side, it could be years" seems a bit of a stretch. Maybe you could drag out an Alabama State Supreme Court race that long, but the Presidency of the United States, no way. I think if it was fairly obvious that Bush lost, cooler heads in the Republican party would call Karl off. Karl Rove is powerful for sure, but ultimately he rules at their pleasure. I can't imagine that the business interests that bankroll the Republicans would prefer that kind of uncertainty and chaos to a Kerry presidency. The markets and the financial bigwigs won't allow the Republicans to start that kind civil war. The Republicans would just bitch about it in the RW media for the next 4 years and try to use their claims of a stolen election to fire up the base.

[WCGreen]

7. Good Point about the money men...

Any kind of prolonged chaos would destroy the US economy as investors would flee to safer, more stable over seas. climes....

Rest assured, the markets are all shakey just now and any thing that would impede profits would be squelshed...