If the GOP wins the presidency, the full power of the state will be unleashed

[Cyrano]

Anyone who lived through or has seen films of Bull Connor using dogs and fire hoses on non-violent protesters in Birmingham Alabama, and anyone who lived through or has seen films of the murders at Kent State, and anyone who lived through or has seen films of the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago, knows that those in power will stop at nothing to keep the peasants down.

As horrible as the above events were, I believe that another Republican in the White House can and will use any and all force necessary to arrest, maim, and/or kill anyone who dares stand up to or speak out about the 1%.

And although I am fully disillusioned with Obama, (and most of the rest of the Democratic Party), I don’t believe he would sanction the use of unlimited force against countless Americans. Perhaps I’m a fool for believing this. But I have no doubts whatsoever about what any Republican president would do.

In no way am I suggesting that OWS, or any of the countless countrywide (and worldwide) movements it has spawned, should back down. Every movement against the powers that be has always caused bloodshed and there’s no reason to believe this one will be any different. Unfortunately, blood seems to be the price that must be paid for any and all human social progress. And everyone who gets out into the street must be aware that they are literally putting their lives on the line.

[Scuba]

1. If the GOP wins the Presidency....

...we should demand a hand recount.

[Cyrano]

7. If the GOP wins the Presidency ...

they won't give a damn what anyone demands. How many people took to the streets in protest when the 2000 election was openly and blatantly stolen?

[BadgerKid]

2. "Now witness the firepower of this fully armed and operational battle station!"

[Old and In the Way]

3. The republican inclination is to label anyone who disagrees with them as traitors.

Ergo, they will use the state apparatus to enforce their vision of America. They want to make the whole idea of voting, an exercise in maintaining power for themselves. Their efforts in Central and South America to exterminate socialist governments were a warm up for their domestic political plans.

[NOLALady]

4. Yes. They are putting their lives on the line.

But I believe that we have more to lose if the choice is to not get into the streets.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

5. I'm voting for Obama. The Repigs have to be stopped. nt

[RC]

10. How has Obama stopped the repugs so far?

He is a façade for the DLC

[Sarah Ibarruri]

11. He may not have, but I want the Repigs out of the White House. Obama is the ONLY chance. nt

[jaxx]

23. The DLC no longer exists.

It's just 3 letters continually used to put down the President.

[daa]

12. You mean like spying on the OWS, oh wait that's Obama sorry nt

[Cyrano]

15. I'm not sure anyone is defending what Obama has done regarding OWS

The real issue here is, who would you rather have in the White House? Obama, or a Republican? Our choices (as of now) suck. But if you think there's a third option, please tell us what it is.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

16. I don't give a shit. As I said, I want Repigs OUT of the White House. nt

[Lint Head]

6. If the GOP wins the presidency consider this country DOA.

[a simple pattern]

8. They're not going to win it.

They might steal it, though.

[Ship of Fools]

13. And if and when it's stolen, I think there will a ton MORE people

in the streets than 2000. And I don't think it will be pretty, considering the anger that many are going to express if given the runaround at the polls. Just one woman's opinion.

[Cyrano]

17. I believe you're right. And you can bet it will get really ugly very fast

[gratuitous]

9. I believe your analysis is correct

And because too many good Democrats aren't objecting to the misuse of power by the current administration, they will have no credibility to object in coming years. That's why principles are more important than politics.

[kctim]

14. Despite the same warnings

from BOTH sides, it didn't happen under Clinton, Bush or even currently under President Obama.

Let me guess, 12-21-11 is the day they start 'cracking down,' right?

[woo me with science]

18. The corporations are getting their policies through right now.

They inhabit both parties, and we no longer have a united Democratic opposition.

[Cyrano]

19. You're changing the subject

I'm not praising Obama in the OP.

I'm saying that, given our limited choices, I'd rather have him in the White House than any Republican.

[woo me with science]

22. I absolutely did not change the subject.

You just didn't like my response.

I understand your logic and the convictions behind your OP; I really do. But after three years of this crap, I can no longer ignore the obvious: that this "lesser of two evils" game is a deliberate strategy to keep us in denial about what is happening to us. Throwing your energy into electing *any* Democrat just doesn't help anymore. You have to elect the right Democrats.

The oligarchy is playing us against each other so that we will not recognize the real enemy, and it is deliberate as hell. It is so easy for a corporate shill to move rightward, when there is always someone further right. And they will continue to play this game, until we make the decision to stop them.

You asked above what the third option is. IMO it is to devote time, money, and passionate energy to OWS and to candidates down ballot who truly support the values and principles of the Democratic Party.

[Cyrano]

24. I agree with supporting specific candidates down ballot

Nonetheless, Bush/Cheney showed us what a president is capable of once he decides to ignore the existence of the Constitution. Imagine someone like Rick Perry in the White House. Do you think he has any idea of what's in the Constitution, or would pay any attention to it if he did?

And even Romney would be capable of doing virtually anything, since a president starts running for reelection the moment he enters the White House. Romney would nuke San Francisco if he thought that it would ensure him a second term.

My point is that there is no longer such a creature as a sane Republican. And that's the sole reason I want to see Obama win next year.

[woo me with science]

25. The Constitution is being dismantled right now

at a pace as dramatic as anything under Bush.

The ACLU on Obama and Core Liberties
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php/harveywasserman.com/en.wikipedia.org/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2069714

I really recommend reading the full ACLU report. It is chilling.

Again, I really do hear and understand your conviction that it's necessary to fight hard to re-elect Obama to prevent a Perry Presidency, because a Perry Presidency would be disastrous for America.

I probably would have agreed with you six months into Obama's Presidency.

But after three years of relentless, outrageous support for destructive corporate policies in economics, health insurance, civil rights, education, the environment, and war, I now have an equal and opposite conviction: that continuing to enable this "Lesser of Two Evils" game - refusing to put our foot down and say NO - perpetuates, entrenches, and ensures this march to disaster.

Thanks for the civil discussion. Take care.

[jwirr]

20. If the gop wins the presidency they will most likely also have control

of the House, Senate and we know they already control the SCOTUS. Game over.

[Cyrano]

21. Yep. Once the GOP controls it all, what's to stop drones from falling on

anything they decide to target? And anyone who thinks they wouldn't do so is living in some parallel universe.

[jwirr]

27. And just look at how they are suppressing the vote already. I think

we would be going back to the white male landowners only voting era.

[Cyrano]

26. I never give a damn about recs or unrecs. But I've noticed

the unrecs piling up and it's amazing how many people don't seem to want anyone to pay attention to this thread. Beats me who they are or what their motives are, but please try to keep this thread going.

I couldn't care less whether or not it gets to the front page. However, I believe we should all be aware of the core message in my OP.

[TBF]

28. At some point we'll get rid of capitalism one way or another -

but that doesn't mean we have to lose our damned minds and vote for republicans in the meantime ...

OWS is doing great and I support them 100%.