About that political post

[jhetley]

Well, after a second cup of coffee, I've decided to post some of this anyway.  Making Light has a bit this morning about police departments preparing for Civil Unrest after the election, with a subtext that only massive fraud can prevent an Obama victory. 

http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/010706.html

Sorry, but I think that stinks.

See, if you question the integrity of the process, you cast doubt on an Obama victory as well as on a loss.  If the Republicans can rig an election, so can the Democrats.  I grew up in Cook County, Illinois, home of Mayor Daley (Elder or Younger).  Democratic Party fraud sort of defined the process, there.  Not sure whether it still does.  But the lesson lives on -- Democrats can be just as sleazy as Republicans.

Demonize thy enemy . . .

Comments

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Chicago politics — vote early and often!

[wcg.livejournal.com]

Fundamentally, you're right. Either side is fully capable of dirty tricks. No matter how the election turns out, there will be allegations of dirty trickery from supporters of the losing side.

From the position of the police departments, it's a very difficult situation. They have to prepare for any reasonable contingency, and it's not absurd to suggest that some kind of civil unrest might occur in the event of an Obama loss. But they also don't want to appear to be acting like the tools of any particular party. Even Baltimore, with a black woman as mayor and a solidly Democratic city council, is preparing for the contingency.

[malkingrey.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've been following that ML thread with a sort of amazed bebogglement my own self.

It would be unkind and probably unfair to think that the arrival and departure of Election Day with nothing more than the usual celebration and kvetching would come as a disappointment to some people . . . but the temptation to unkindness is, on occasion, extreme.

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

Maybe so, but recent history suggests rather strongly that the balance has shifted.