The most frightening scenario

[Onlooker]

Let's suppose pre-election polls and exit polls show Obama handily winning the election, but instead he loses.

At this point, conservatives would claim that the Bradley effect kicked in, while liberals would insist that there was widespread election fraud. Major protest would occur, putting the country in a volatile state.

Soon after, both houses of Congress gather to count the votes from the electors, but the House may be able to reject some electors (such as electors from states where election fraud occurred). They would do this if the public protested loudly enough.

If the House rejected enough electors so that neither candidate could get 270 electoral votes, the House would choose the next president from Obama and McCain. But, each Congressional delegation gets one vote, meaning that states like Oklahoma and Wyoming carry as much weight as states like California and New York.

If the vote was going to be close, activism would be the deciding factor and both sides would stir their proponents up. It could become a dangerous and dramatic time.

I don't think this scenario is implausible.

[Marsala]

1. It's implausible because it has Obama losing after being way ahead in the polls

That's not going to happen. If (and it's an ENORMOUS if) McCain comes back to win, the polls will show his surge at the end.

[lapfog_1]

2. Well, they stolen two previous elections

and not all that much happened to prevent it.

Our "congress" hasn't done all that much to stop the Bush/Cheney/Palin party of thugs.

Why would they start now?

(exception... the Congressional Black Caucus stood up for Al Gore in 2000, an act that I will never forget... they were pretty much the only ones)

[Schulzz]

3. If Obama is ahead in the exit poll and loses, the election was definiately stolen.

With up to 30% of the votes to be casted in early voting, where Obama will probably have a big advantage, he should be ahead by more points than the exit polls are showing.

[Essene]

4. ...an even worse case scenario...

We fall for the trap and let this election become about race.

The republicans increasingly focus on Ayers, Wright, Louis Farrakhan, etc... and some black leaders start screaming about racism. The GOP then screams "playing the race card" which makes things even worse. More serious charges that Obama isn't a natural born citizen emerge, etc. Michele Obama is widely called a militant black muslim supporter, etc.

The MSM flops around trying to appear neutral.

The predictable tensions flood with reports of hate crimes going "both ways" in the week leading into the election. Reports of fraud, voter intimidation and electioneering increase (both sides).

This all happens as suddenly the race tightens in swing states. The MSM becomes obsessed with "the bradley effect."

Obama supporters, especially younger ones, get overwhelmed by a sense of hopelessness and the belief this election is being stolen again. Negativity and tensions come to dominate.

...and then there is violence on election day in a few places, starting early morning.

On election night, it remains unclear who won yet the Mccain campaign declares themselves the winners. Riots begin in several american cities in utter despair over the perceived fraud and theft of the election. Hate crimes flood america as we enter a new depression.

Etc.

[Honeycombe8]

5. The Dem. Party better be ready to sue or otherwise officially object to certain results...

if it wants to have a political party in the future.

If the polls show a COMFORTABLE lead in certain areas, and the results are suspiciously the opposite of that....I hope the Dem. Party is prepared to sic the dogs on the election officials in that area. It will HAVE to be investigated.

[Golden Raisin]

6. The dogs' leashes will first have to be untied

from the legs of the table that impeachment is off of.

[Bucky]

7. Rioting in the streets! Buildings burning! Windows smashed! Zoo animals on the loose!

OMFG!!

I think the Republic will survive the worst abuses we can inflict on it. I have 8 years of evidence to back that up.

[applegrove]

8. Exit polls should not be published until after the polls have closed

all across the country. When Kerry ran they were published at 2PM giving Kerry a win. The result? Lazy Kerry supporters stayed home and Bush supporters redoubled their efforts to go out and vote.