Washblog || What will we do if Obama "loses?"

What will we do if Obama "loses?"

By raincity calling
Sun Oct 26, 2008 at 12:21:47 PM PST
Section: Diary Topic: General news/info

The polls show that Obama is leading, yet I, a believer in responsible polls, both pre-polling and exit polls, have no confidence that Barack Obama will be our next president.

It doesn't matter that much about Obama's campaign has been unprecedented - the amount of money raised, the number of contributors, the number of volunteers, the size of the crowds, the number of newspaper endorsements, the number of well known Republicans shifting from their party's candidate to endorse Barack Obama. None of that matters if we can't depend on the election process to reflect the will of the people.

Al Gore won the 2000 election, and John Kerry won the 2004 election (read Richard Hayes Phillips' book, "Witness to a Crime" if you still doubt the latter assertion). Both "lost" because our election system is no longer designed to reflect the will of the people. Secret vote counting machines, machines that visibly flip votes from Kerry to Bush or Obama to McCaine, voter registration purges by partisan and/or incompetent election officials, and nonsense rules regarding voter registration drives, all stand to prevent the November 4th election from reflecting the will of the people.

So what will you do, and what should we, collectively, do on November 5th, 2008, if things go horribly wrong? Will you be on the streets? If you decide to take to the streets (peaceably I presume), what streets? Here in Seattle, Washington D.C., or maybe Colorado, Pennsylvania, or Ohio, which ever is the state or states whose "flawed system" is most obvious? Seriously, what should we do, and what will you personally do?

Early Voting-Problems Already Emerging.

Bush Asks Mukasey to Investigate Newly Registered Voters in Ohio.

Absentee Ballots Go Missing in Denver.

CO County Clerk Misinforming College Students.

Police Fear Riots if Obama Loses.

< Metro Transit Shortfall | On Dressing For Success, Part Two, Or, We Costume Palin...For 2/3 Off! >

Poll

Votes: 18
Results	\|	Other Polls

What will we do if Obama "loses?" | 10 comments (10 topical)

Good news or bad, I hope we are on the streets

I know, no matter what the outcome, I will be in a state of shock.

What I hope is that America will be on the streets on November 5th no matter what happens.

If Obama is declared the winner, I hope America takes the day off and celebrates with music and dancing on the streets of America.

If Obama loses, and it seems like things were just not right (like in 2004), then I hope America takes to the streets in protest.

People don't even have to leave their neighborhood, just take to the streets. Hold signs, get your neighbors out. Show the world and our government that we know that we have been duped once again.

After November 5th, then I hope all Americans will realize that voting isn't enough. That in order to maintain a democracy, we have to be active and participating citizens all year round, year after year. And then, we fight to take back our elections.

by raincity calling on Sun Oct 26, 2008 at 12:57:00 PM PST

* 1 none 0 *

Prevention, Rejoicing and Action

Rejoice!!

Pledge to act:

http://www.pdamerica.org/articles/alliances/2008-10-09-09-06-25-alliances.php

http://www.nomorestolenelections.org/subscribe

by ktkeller on Sun Oct 26, 2008 at 08:02:46 PM PST

* 2 none 0 *

If McPalin "wins" this election...

I promise to go ape shit. Three stolen election in a row is a bit much, don't you think?

by lanscot on Mon Oct 27, 2008 at 01:39:08 AM PST

* 3 none 0 *

One was a bit much by Pen, 10/27/2008 01:51:27 AM PST (none / 0)

So should we be making plans for Nov 5th?

Shall we round up people and musicians to show up at Westlake Center at Noon to celebrate?

Shall we tell them to be prepared to come with protest signs if things go wrong?

Shouldn't we be planning?

I do plan to volunteer to observe ballot processing at KC Elections. On Nov 4th I am a poll worker, so I will be keeping an eye on my polling place. The inspector at my polling place is very good, so I have no worries. My only worry is people being subtlety directed to vote on the touch screen voting machines.

by raincity calling on Tue Oct 28, 2008 at 10:58:53 AM PST

* 5 none 0 *

Signage directing them away from the touchscreens by Pen, 10/30/2008 12:37:59 AM PST (none / 0)

No More Stolen Elections is a Hub for Events Nov 5

Calling them voter assemblies:

http://www.nomorestolenelections.org/va

There is one in Seattle from 5-7pm
It doesn't say where!

by ktkeller on Fri Oct 31, 2008 at 09:54:02 PM PST

* 7 none 0 *

Voter Assembly and Signage - both good ideas

The signs are easy. Everyone could create flyers and hang them around their neighborhood and near polling places. "Protect your vote - vote on paper not on a touch screen voting machine" I like it.

A Voter Assembly is very interesting. Supposedly there is one in Seattle, but no address is given.

Besides the machines, people really need to start talking about how the way we conduct mail in balloting disenfranchises large numbers of voters. I am already seeing it in this election, locally and nationally.

by raincity calling on Sat Nov 01, 2008 at 12:37:11 AM PST

* 8 none 0 *

Senior Dem "Leaders" will internalize

ANOTHER lesson in getting their politically incompetent asses handed to them

AND keep selling out cuz they're worried about the fascist lying about them.

(See RayGun & Tip O'Neil, 1981
OR
the Pelosi / Reid gang of chickenshits and sell outs)

rmm.

http://www.liemail.com/BambooGrassroots.html

by rmdSeaBos on Sun Nov 02, 2008 at 05:49:13 AM PST

* 9 none 0 *

re:

i will be disappoint since i think obama will be a great president.
{duncan - lose 5 lbs }

by duncan on Sat Jan 31, 2009 at 11:46:50 PM PST

* 10 none 0 *

What will we do if Obama "loses?" | 10 comments (10 topical)

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