2008 The Flip Side
posted by on October 22 at 9:00 AM
A lot of people have been murmuring about the possibility of riots in some big cities in the event that Obama loses while polls are still projecting a win for him. But here’s something I hadn’t heard until now: according to the The Hill, police departments are also preparing for riots if Obama wins:
Some worry that if Barack Obama loses and there is suspicion of foul play in the election, violence could ensue in cities with large black populations. Others based the need for enhanced patrols on past riots in urban areas (following professional sports events) and also on Internet rumors.
Gads, the blacks are SO violent. WTF?
riotous joy. it's flipping cars vs. burning cars. shooting guns in the air vs. aiming them at others.
So, here in Chicago, Obama has just announced that there will be a big election night party/event in Grant Park that he will attend. I cannot even begin to imagine how massive this event is going to be given his level of support here and the fact that people are already talking about traveling to Chicago to attend.
So, I’m betting that if he loses, riot central will be downtown Chicago. Though, I can’t see people rioting there if he wins.
Violent individuals should be apprehended by the police. But if a crowd is protesting peacefully, police should not start the riot by attempting to disperse them with tear gas, pepper spray, etc.
what a load of racist crap.
The danger is the fucking right wing, why do you think they are laying the groundwork by calling Obama unAmerican?
They are trying to provoke some nut to go shoot him. Sorry, but it needs to be said.
They are trying to provoke a bnch of "Palin dudes" to go off their right wing rockers and have riots at elections boards all over the USA if it's close and they can try to steal the elecion.
WE all need to be ready to take to the streets in massive pro democracy demonstrations in every big city, I mean really massive, like 200,000 in St. Louis, 100,000 in MN, 500,000 in DC immediately, if there is any sign of this bullshit.
And no I am not kidding, not being ironic nor doing any reverse double spin psychic bullshit here.
What history teaches is the right wing uses force to steal elections. They did it in 2000 with their fake GOP "demonstrations" outside the VP mansion -- in fact it was all GOP staffers from Capitol Hill in DC.
Capitol Hill is going to be a fucking madhouse either way. I'm taking the following day off.
WTFWTO
Cool, I've been saving an outfit for the occasion! Could the Stranger please post the location of the best riots? Thanks!
I just realized I have a dentist appointment at 4:20 on election day.
Shit.
PC, we learned from recent Iraq war protests that they don't work and nobody cares.
I lived in Minneapolis when the Twins won the World Series and it was pasty, pudgy Lutherans running amuck setting trashcans on fire and not the 14 indigenous African-Americans in the Twin Cities.
Win or Lose, I'm running amuck on November 4th...
"White riot, I wanna riot!"
Riots happen whenever a sports team wins a championship nowadays. It's the thing to do. It's not racism on the part of the police (at least, no more than the usual). More ageism, since more young people are getting involved in politics because of Obama, and they tend to be the ones who like to tear down goalposts and flip cars and shit.
Will we be LiveSlogging the riots? Maybe get Constant tipsy on a few-too-many Chardonnay and then send him out into the fray with a digital videocam?
There won't be any riots if Obama wins. A lot of us may finally be able to get a good night's sleep, though.
If Obama loses, will there be a riot scheduled for after the Stranger Election Party?
I agree with PC on this one. What I've been seeing leads me to believe that violence is more likely to erupt if Obama wins, rather than if he loses.
#4 is correct. If there are riots, they will be caused by police coming down on otherwise-peaceful assemblers.
It won't be blacks that will be rioting if Obama loses, it'll be whites. Blacks will be the innocent bystanders if riots occur.
It will either be a celebration for the record books, or the most miserable night you can remember. I am optimistic that good times are around the bend.
No matter how you slice it, people are gonna be doing some serious drinking. Election Night will be bonkers, for sure.
#19 - I agree. I rarely drink, but I have an expensive bottle of champers on ice in case Obama wins. In fact, I think I'll get a second bottle as one will NOT be enough.
If I lived in the "pro-America" sections of America, I'd stay off the streets in the case of an Obama win. I don't think they'll take our exercise in democracy gracefully.
Remember, if you're burning down the rich and ultra-rich folks houses, they're wired into the fire departments.
First, destroy the lines leading to the neighborhoods.
Then torch it.
@8 Great idea!! Great looking but stout boots, bandana for color, disguise and protection from tear gas, leather or quilted jacket with padded shoulders to lessen the blow of police batons, ditto heavy hat.
ON THE FLIP SIDE: IF OBAMA WINS...
Can you imagine the parties that will happen WORLDWIDE? Oh yeah, the Global South will fucking celebrate.
As to Obama losing, if the blacks riot, I know plenty of whites who will join them.
@22, instead of a bandanna, how about one of those donkey scarf things?
So, it sounds like Naomi Wolf is on to something, from the article "Thousands of Troops Are Deployed on U.S. Streets Ready to Carry Out "Crowd Control":
"The First Brigade of the Third Infantry Division, three to four thousand soldiers, has been deployed in the United States as of October 1. Their stated mission is the form of crowd control they practiced in Iraq, subduing “unruly individuals,” and the management of a national emergency."
Obama wins, due to "riots" Bush, using the Insurrection Act declares martial law, suspends habeaus corpus, and overturns the elections.
Read the complete article here: http://tiny.cc/0gnGw
On the evening of Nov. 4, if the projections declare Obama the winner, with spoon and saucepan in-hand I'll head out my front door and create a jubilant ruckus. If McCain wins, I'll sob, vomit, all the while trying to hide my despair from my baby.
If I didn't have a kid, I'd go wherever I was guided, taking to the streets and raising holy hell. I didn't even wanna go there - I get anxious thinking about it.
"I am optimistic that good times are around the bend."
Personally I'd hope you were right. Good times would be good for everyone. But pharma/IT boards have been twitching nervously about what might happen with layoffs in those sectors if Mr Obama is elected and implements his tax plans. Curiously, with Mr Obama a bit ahead in the polls, Merck just announced plans to shed 7000 jobs. Merck Pharmacueticals is not a company tied directly to the mortgage crisis; it doesn't sound like they're expecting boom times.
I'n not anticipating great business news even if Mr McCain wins. However, if Mr Obama does win on 4 November, then on the 5th: look for the Dow to close down 10-15% for the day--and possibly down 20% on the week--and during November listen for announcements from various businesses to dump several hundred thousand jobs through the first quarter of '09. Also look for oil to start heading back up, slowly but surely.
@27, you stupid fucking troll. the stock market and business has done way better under D administrations. There was a post on slog a few days ago about this. Fucking ignorant republicans.
"the stock market and business has done way better under D administrations."
Thanks, 28. Just keep repeating that. Maybe you can write it on a flag like a Tibetan prayer and it will flutter up to the empyrean where Mr Obama will see it.
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