The Coming Post-Election Chaos - By John Dean

[Quetzal]

The Coming Post-Election Chaos
By John 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.

The Coming Post-Election Chaos

[truthpusher]

1. Looks lik you need to celebrate your thousandth post!!

[AndyTiedye]

2. That is Why Booosh is Playing to his Fundie Base So Much

He wants more than just their votes, he wants them on the streets
(with their guns) for him when he decides not to leave office
after he loses.

[Piperay]

3. Interesting

and if that is what it takes, than "bring it on".

[regnaD kciN]

4. I think this unlikely (we may get an even worse alternative)...

While exciting predictions of chaos and possible civil war are great for drawing attention to your articles, I find myself disagreeing with John Dean on this. I believe this chaos can only take place in the unlikely event that the election is really as close as we've been hearing for the past week -- I'm talking about four or five "Floridas" all at once, with each side needing three or so of them to win.

And I don't think this is going to happen. I think that, on election day, there's going to be a shift in the direction of one candidate or another, so that the final result, although close, will be crystal-clear to all.

And, while I'd like to think that Kerry will be the beneficiary of the shift, I must admit to a deepening fear that what we may well see will be a repeat of 2002 -- where everyone predicts the election will be "too close to call" until the results start trickling in, and we see an across-the-board movement giving the overall vote, and the vast majority of the "swing" states, to the Republicans -- this even if the election is run with scrupulous honesty.

Why do I fear this? Because, although undecideds typically "break" toward the challenger, this is no typical time. Indeed, as others have noted, if you are still undecided by now, you haven't been paying attention. I think that this time, as in 2002, those classified as "undecided" by now are really either confused, mentally lazy, or both. (Let me make this clear: I don't mean these people are stupid as in "unable to think," but lazy as in "unwilling to think," at least not for very long or hard.) I greatly fear that these people, come election day, will simply do the equivalent of throwing up their hands and saying "these issues are simply too hard for me to figure out, so I'm just going to let those in charge worry about them, and vote for The President, since he has promised to keep us safe...and who am I, who can't figure these things out myself, to question the judgement of those in charge?"

And that, my friends, is not only the path to a Bush victory, but the path to a new model of American politics: a "friendly fascism" where an entrenched leadership is free to control us totally (goodbye civil liberties, or anything else counter to the wishes of the leaders, in the name of "security for us all"), as long as they don't make things too uncomfortable for the majority of Americans; and where there are still elections, but for no real purpose except to rubber-stamp the leaders for another term, or else (count on the opposition not to find it easy or "pleasant" to take on those in power, other than to provide an acceptable alternative for show purposes without any hope of winning under the new dispensation). In other words, a repressive "free-market" state like several in Asia, with all the trappings of democracy but none of the substance. And the worst thing is, we'll have willingly done it to ourselves.

:scared: