Does the possibility of an assassination attempt worry you?...

[Locut0s]

Or do you feel such talk is mostely tin foil hat consiracy talk? I don't usually like bringing up such topics and I'm NOT a consirpacy theorist in any way shape or form!! However several things have me worried about the possibility of an atempt on Obama's life.

(1) The palpable sense of hope that Obama is engendering. The future looks pretty bleak right now on multiple fronts and Obama is one of the few bright lights in the dark.

(2) The desperation of the right wing. They can see this election slipping away from them day by day and we are seeing it drive them to desperation. Even their senior political members are willing to use horrendous smear tactics (linking Obama with terrorism!).

(3) The really obvious one, Obama is black. As we all know there are plenty of right wing KKK type nut jobs out there willing to do more than just talk.

Taken together especially as we head into the final few weeks of the campaign it's a worrisome mixture. It's often the case that those beacons of hope during times of crisis become the targets of the desperate and the crazy.

Is this crazy talk or is anyone else worried about the possibility too?

[tavalon]

1. Nope, not worried

Terrified.

[ColbertWatcher]

2. The GOP are desperate, fragile people.

I would not put anything past them.

But, the Secret Service are professionals; they'll do their job.

[Locut0s]

3. I don't mean the GOP so much as an independent right wing nut job... Obama is seen as a saviour...

Like I was saying Obama is taking on this image of a saviour. He is one of the few bright lights of hope in a time of darkness and that kinds of thing tends to draw out the crazies. I don't think anyone in the GOP would be stupid enough to do something like that but there are plenty of other crazies out there.

And as good as the Secret Service is they have failed in the past.

[ColbertWatcher]

7. There is no such thing as an independent right wing nut job; they're the GOP. n/t

[canetoad]

4. Yes

I think it is a very possible scenario, possibly not for the reasons you state because they, at least demonstrate some kind of warped logic.

There are always plenty of stooges around to carry out a hate crime.

The assassination of Obama by right wingers would take your country down a path I would not like to contemplate.

[Locut0s]

5. I didn't intend to state that the person carrying out such an act would be following any sense of...

logic. What I was trying to state was that those who lack any sense of logic but who are the type to carry out such an act tend to surface during these times of crisis and tend to target those who offer the greatest hope.

[canetoad]

8. Then we are coming from the same place

I wish it was not so, but fear the likelihood of an assasination attempt is extremely high. Obama is moderate and fair in his policies; many people will not get past the colour of his skin.

[EFerrari]

6. Assassination in this country is not theory but history.

We've had it here and we've exported it, too.

This is going to be a very dangerous time, imho. The national "security" apparatus is out of control and there's little accountability. Local law enforcement agencies are stressed. That's just where we are right now. I don't know what it will take until we get another wave of reform like the Church Committee tried to put into action.

[Bippity Boo]

9. Attempts are already happening...

...I assume you're referring to character assassination.

[Locut0s]

10. Umm no I'm not referring to character assassination, I'm referring to assassination assassination.

[pokerfan]

11. “What’s past is prologue.”

History matters because it tends to repeat itself. Only an ignorant fool would ignore history. I was alive in 1968 but not really old enough to understand what was going on other than the world seemed ugly, crazy and dangerous.

I'm concerned that McCain & Palin are whipping their crowds into such frenzies that there are now spontaneous shouts of "traitor, "terrorist!" and "kill him!" at the mention of Obama's name.

Combine this with years of people's savings being wiped out in the market and there's a lot of unfocused rage out there. All they need is someone to point them to a target.

It's beyond disgusting.

[OneGrassRoot]

18. Word. n/t

[MrSlayer]

12. Not anymore than if McCain won.

I think the Neos would knock off McCain faster than they would Obama. Palin is their perfect puppet, it would be Chimpy 2.0. They'd only do Obama if he got too crazy with uncovering the real players behind the disasters over the past eight years or crossed the line in doing things to benefit the people. Plus they are long term thinkers, they need someone to refill the coffers so they can loot them again later. I think he's safe. No lone nutcase is going to get anywhere near him.

[Locut0s]

13. Your last sentance. Why?

As good as the secret service is they have failed in the past.

[MrSlayer]

57. Well, because I don't believe they have ever failed except on purpose.

At the end of the day these are people trained to obey orders.

[JCMach1]

14. Yeah the thought of Cheney as CnC is pretty nightmarish...

[Locut0s]

15. Didn't read my post did you ;-) I am refering to Obama and a default McCain in Office.

[JCMach1]

19. Should have dropped the sarcasm icon...

I think there would be a huge uprising if such an unthinkable thing happened.

My best hope is that the CIA, the bankers, and other spooks don't want McCain any more than the rest of America at this point.

[dysfunctional press]

23. but your post didn't mention mccain even once...

:shrug:

besides- if obama were assassinated, mccain isn't the one who would take his place...:crazy:

[Joe Chi Minh]

16. Your assertion that you are "NOT a conspiracy theorist" renders your post

meaningless. What do you mean by the term, "conspiracy theorist"?

[Locut0s]

17. I mean that I don't subscribe to the whole 2nd shooter/grassy knoll / we didn't land on the moon...

bull shit. I mean that I don't bring this up lightly as I am not usually one prone to wild leaps of exaggeration.

[zeemike]

20. And there is the perfect foil.

Lump all things like no moon landing with the grassy knoll.
That is how you discredit the actual facts of a conspiracy, by making is seem like a nut case idea.
What a shame we are not smarter than that.

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dysfunctional press]

22. nope. i don't know of anyone who wants me dead that badly.

:shrug:

[Ghost in the Machine]

24. Yes, but when I posted *my* concerns about it, the thread got locked as 'inflammatory'..

go figure, huh?

[northernlights]

25. It doesn't worry me

because we'd be in very, very good hands with Biden.

But it does sadden me. I respect the Obama's all the more because they know, better than any of us, the risks involved. But the walk straight ahead anyway, with true courage.

Personally I think it is as equal a grim possibility as McCain dying from his various infirmities, should he steal the election (the only way he could get it). Statistically at his age, McCain has close to a 20% chance of not finishing a term.

[Mudoria]

26. Very much worried.... very much so

[RB TexLa]

27. Every time I have said there are millions upon millions in this country who would I've been told

that there are only a couple of hundred racists in America.

[Philosoraptor]

28. Well, he's made it through 8 whole years unscathed....

[ellie]

29. No I am not worried

It is a subset of the repuke party that is causing the trouble.

[rucky]

30. My BIL was actually using this as an excuse not to vote for him.

So I pointed out the same (obvious) thing I pointed out to him:

Nobody is more aware of the risk than Obama himself, and he doesn't seem to be worried about it, so neither should we.

He agreed, and I think he'll either vote Obama, or he was just telling me that to shut me up.

[Upfront]

31. I am!

Have you noticed who gets killed? It is always a liberal type who gives great hope to the masses. I feel the Senator is in great danger. What McCain is doing with his slime tactics is beyond anything I have seen in my 67 years. It is gutless and despicable.

[Ishoutandscream2]

32. Yeah, I keep thinking of 1968

Things are in the shitter right now, and that will make for some very angry people.

[Balbus]

33. No.

[leftofthedial]

34. Yes.

[Horse with no Name]

35. Yes but not MAINLY for the reasons you purport

I think being Black does make Obama a target for the racist hatred that is festering in this country. However, for some home-grown Bubba to get close enough to actually harm Obama is far-fetched.

HOWEVER...the racism will be fomented because of the power shift. The republican extremists did not seize all of this power to give it up very easily. IF anyone is able to get close enough to assassinate Obama...it will be because the security was ALLOWED to be breached and the deed ALLOWED to be carried out.

FWIW...I don't believe any of the assassination fairy tales.

They were all inside jobs...and if it is allowed to happen again...it will be another inside job.

[ejpoeta]

36. I had worried a bit, but not much. but the recent hatefulness shown

at the rallies and such have been alarming to me. i fear these crazies out there. and mccain and palin aren't helping. i don't hear them denouncing these people and telling them to stop it. so even if it wasn't them to spout the bad stuff, they are basically endorsing it by not stopping it. i give obama a lot of credit. i imagine that he had this discussion with his wife before they ever began to run. they know what they are getting into and to put himself out there like that says a lot.

[OhioChick]

37. Very concerned...

Especially when he gets into office. (Reason: race)

[Bigmack]

38. Scares the shit outta me....

all the time. The more desperate they get, the more worried I get. The rightwing is full of gun nuts.

These fuckers are all over the place.... 2,000 yard sure hits, with a bullet that can pierce armor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Barret_M82_Shooting.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrett_M82

Recent reports suggest that there have been unconfirmed issues where black market Barrett .50 rifles are being used by Mexican drug gangs against police officers

[riverdeep]

39. It's not at the front of my mind, but it's at the back.

I'm convinced they'll be at least one or two attempts (there already was one at Denver, nipped). Have you seen Palin supporters? They are the textbook definition of mob. They are angry, they are racist, they are being whipped into a frenzy, they're easily prone to conspiracy theories, and then there are people who see this as an opportunity, whose wet dream would be a race war.

But here's the thing. What these people may not know, they believe the lie that all liberals are pacifists. I'm not condoning this, but I do believe this is how it would go down in the real world. Whoever took Obama down, would be ripped limb from limb while alive. Put him (or her) in all the protective custody you like, it would be a matter of time. Our side, unfortunately, can be mob like as well, and I think would also take out anyone associated with the group that gave rise to the individual(s). People who may only have a passing association with the group would be indiscriminately targeted. It wouldn't be fair, but that's what would happen. In other words, it would be a total suicide mission. Anger that's been barely contained for eight years would come out with brutality the right probably doesn't think the left is really capable of. Even though they say we're angry, they wouldn't have seen anything yet.

[undeterred]

40. YES.

Considering that Sarah Palin is stirring up the nutjobs on the right and that Bush seems to be preparing for martial law, it looks like they are preparing for something BIG.

[Horse with no Name]

41. I guess something I hadn't thought of

assassination a few days before the election would interrupt elections...wouldn't it?
People would take to the streets...it would get really ugly really quick. Good point.:(

[obamaforme]

42. yes it worries me a lot!

[LeftinOH]

43. YES. With all the rabid encouragement from the RW gasbags, its a very real possibility..n/t

[noonwitch]

44. Yes, but I think the Secret Service has learned a lot since 1981

1981 being the last time an assassin got close enough to a president to shoot him.

The Klan needs to be told in no uncertain terms that if you or your ilk assassinate Obama, his image is going on Mt. Rushmore. That's something they don't want.

[KOBUK]

45. Very much !

I was over at my mother in law's house last night trying to get the paper work together in order to sell her car. She is 90 years old and I always knew she was prejudice but what came out of her mouth when a picture of Obama came on the T.V.floored me.Her exact words "Somebody needs to KILL him" I looked at her and said I was shocked at her statement.Didn't want to get into it with her ,nothing will change her mind. But I felt very differently toward her.This is a very religious person,who loves Pastor Hagee and thinks she has a one way ticket to heaven.With thoughts like that, I think she might be headed in the other direction.

[kimmerspixelated]

50. OMG that's awful!

[tom_paine]

61. If there's a hell, she's going. She'll get to room with the 1930s Germans, if there is any justice.

She's your mom, and that's a horrible thing to say, so I would understand why you wouldn't say it.

Still, she needs to hear it. If only to get her Bushie Lies and Excuses ready for St. Peter when he explains why she's going down instead of through the gates.

I didn't know.

I was only following orders.

I was misled.

I though Bush was the Second Coming when he was the AntiChrist.

I'm not to blame.

I'm just a product of my times.

I'm sure St. Peter LOOOOOOVES Good Germans and Good Bushies. I'm sure Mom will be just fine in the afterlife.

:rofl:

[Phoonzang]

46. How could it not?

Obama has the greatest chance of being assassinated of any presidential candidate ever. I trust that the Secret Serv. are taking this into account.

[garlicmilkshake]

47. Absolutely. One out of every 10 presidents have been assassinated.

Q.E.D.

[demo dutch]

48. After the recent Palin hate fests, I am concerned that the crazies are getting fired up!

[ScreamingMeemie]

49. Because I don't feel a (1) here-the palpable sense of hope you talk of...

I will have to say yes because of number 3. There is no sense of hope here in SE Michigan...there is only the drudgery of trying to make it through another day.

[SmokingJacket]

51. I have had literal nightmares about this.

However, they hated Bill Clinton, and he's still kicking.

There are millions of people hating on other people every day, and very few of them get killed. That's how I think about it. Tiny comfort, but whatever.

[kimmerspixelated]

52. Yes, and it makes me real sick to imagine it.

I think of JFK and how he was a good guy, but was planning to reel in the mafia and other people, just doing the right thing, and he gets killed. In some ways I'm glad Obama doesn't talk big about taking the Bushies down, because I don't think it would end well. I still want him to prosecute them, but that was the thing with Edwards. He was constantly talking about bringing the corps, etc. down and I think that expose' in his private life was the payback, y'know, to keep him outta being in the running for AG. I am worried about the nutcases, esp. the ones that Palin and McCain haven't denounced. Joe Six Pack needs to leave his guns at home, or better yet-toss those suckers in the dumpster! I know one thing. OBAMA is the bravest man I've ever seen. I think our undeniable support keeps him going, and he's so busy, he probably doesn't even think about it that much. I also hope they pay the SS enough to where there could never be a reason for any of them to suddenly look away because their palms have been extra greased.

[spanone]

53. nwmhtt

[Corgigal]

54. The timing of all this is really bad

People are looking for a scapegoat. They are losing their jobs and homes. Others are being laid off and none of us know what is going to happen tomorrow, forget a few months from now. Now add some hate speech, radical haters with guns, passionate supports who wont back down. Add the stupid race/religious lies/middle name and low information voters ability to understand those "issues" quickly because they are conditioned to hate the "other". Add some fear to the mix and the human being can do some awful acts.

I not only fear for Obama, but his supporters. Not to mention if something goes badly then I would fear for the republican backers. These hate speeches have to stop. This should not be the way adults behave in an 1st world country.

[W_HAMILTON]

55. Yes.

I think you'd have to be naive if you didn't at least have it cross your mind. The Republicans are whipping up their fanatical followers, and we know how violent and deranged they can be.

[readmoreoften]

No. Not worried.

Barack Obama is running as a neoliberal, status quo candidate who is committed to working with the Republican party. It is possible that a klan type might try it, but I don't believe there will be an organized coup via assassination. They would only end up martyring Obama and putting Biden in office anyway.

[readmoreoften]

56. Dupe

[fujiyama]

58. Of course it does

and yes, the possibility of Obama getting assassinated is greater than McCain facing the same fate. There are MANY virulent psychotic racists out there. People delude themselves when they believe otherwise.

But he will win, because many other people, who may have been otherwise racist, are giving the n*gger their vote...

[shaniqua6392]

59. I figure the Secret Service must be really good at their job.

Otherwise, Bush would be dead.

[charlie]

62. Good when they want to be

Remember, it was the Secret Service who ordered local police to stop weapons screening at a 17,000-seat Obama primary rally... in Dallas, of all places. Who knows what the fuck that was all about. Even the Dallas cops were freaking. I dunno if you can trust anybody anymore.

[tom_paine]

63. Exactly. In Totaliarian Nations like Amerika, where all insitutions have been coopted

by Totalitarianism and brought under it's control, EVERYTHING must be scrutinized and nothing is safe.

As it is in Bushie Amerika, so it was in Nazi Germany and every Totalitarian Nation in between.

[charlie]

64. Yeah

If he gets whacked, it'll be a crazed loner, per usual. And we'll embrace that fantasy, per usual.

[tom_paine]

66. God Forbid but yes. Besides, wondering about things might make a person feel like getting off their

ass.

Can't have that, can we? Amerikan Idol is coming on...

Oh my yes, we will happily embrace the lying fantasy, as totalitarian subjects ALWAYS DO, before they wise up (usually through decades of suffering) as to how often Bushies, Commies, Nazis and other totalitarians like them lie.

100% of the time. Literally. 100% of the time.

OK, only 99.9% of the time. NOW I am not exaggrating.

[tom_paine]

60. God Forbid, but yes I am very concerned, I think Obama has very little to fear from "lone gunmen"

Like the Kennedy brothers, he has little to fear from"lone gunmen".

What he has to fear, like JFK and RFK and MLK, is the Bushies killing him, and arranging to "let the security down" at the right time. Then, frame the patsy.

Given that the Bushies have almost complete control over Bushified/Nazified law enforcement (if you are an honest LEO, it is likely you are slated for demotion and harassment at Bush Agencies), they should have an easier time competing the con jobthan they ever did when they murdered JFK, RFK, and MLK.

God Forbid it should, happen, but it is naive in the extreme to think the Bushies won't murder him if he gets too close to doing so real damage to their criminal operations.

Oh, and then frame a patsy.

[B Calm]

65. I can think of 9000 reasons right off the top of my head why someone

would want to put a bullet into George W Bush, and no one has! Anyway that's what I tell the right-wing gun nut at work whenever he brings up the subject that someone will end up killing Obama.

[whyverne]

67. I'm terrified too

I dread facing the day when I have to tell my 12 year old son, with his Obama stickers all over his bedroom, that his guy has been murdered. Some posters don't seem to realize the depth of racism in this country. I suggest that they watch the movie "Mississippi Burning" again. There's a line in there that pretty much nails it. "If you're not better than a nigger, who are you better than?" That's the thought process we're dealing with.