Riots
I’ve heard around the spectrum talks of this election ending badly. By badly, I don’t mean in terms of your guy losing. I mean people addressing the potential for post election violence. If it’s close, will there be riots. If it goes to court, will there be riots?
Also, one of the Supreme Court justices is ill. In the event he’s not around for the pending case, would a 4-4 vote cause riots?
I’m just wondering how likely it is that this thing could end badly. Thoughts? I tend to doubt there will be substantial riots except maybe in Democrat leaning large cities.
I have two beers bet on this election and rioting would interfere with my ability to collect. I’d hate for Kevin and Chris to brave the riots to bring me my beer!
October 27th, 2004 at 12:23 pm
one name for you.
john titor.
http://www.johntitor.com/
October 27th, 2004 at 1:54 pm
I went to the inauguration in 2000, and was surprised at how well behaved the crowd was. Wile there were large and dense concentrations of loud, pissed off protesters, there didn’t seem to be much chance of a riot. Part of that was due to the huge numbers of cops (I was on the front row, right next to the street, and the police line was 4 deep), but I talked to lots of people, and I didn’t get the sense that very many showed up with the intention to start problems.
Here in DC, at least, the police seem to have figured out effective crowd control methods, and nationwide, the anarchists, who have initiated most of the problems in recent years, seem to have largely been rendered impotent.
My guess is that there won’t be significant violence unless there is a truly extreme resolution to the election — for instance, if Kerry wins the popular vote, there’s an electoral tie with widespread allegations of fraud in states with razor thin margins, and the House gives Bush the presidency. In that situation, I suspect DC will fucking burn down.