Wednesday, September 22, 2004

What If Kerry Wins?

I'm not predicting that he will, but what if he does? If Bush wins, Kerry supporters will be mightily ticked off, but I think that most of them are mentally prepared for that possibility, maybe even probability. But if Kerry wins, however, I have no idea how the Bush supporters will take it. My sense from comments to this blog along with other reads of the current state of politics is that many Bush people can't fathom the possibility of him losing and will have a very hard time making the necessary psychological adjustment if he does. In fact, some won't and will do everything they can to delegitimize Kerry's victory. Yes, some on the left will be in the same state if Bush wins, but I'd guess that this will be more widespread on the right. Again, I have no idea if Kerry will win and I'm not even sure if I want him to, but if he does, get ready for a meltdown on the right.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

If Kerry wins, we will see a repeat of FL 2000 in every state that is even close. The Repubs and their talking machine will have Bush supporters in the street, and convinced the election was "stolen" if Kerry doesn't take it in a landslide. We'll be lucky to have the recounts and legal battles over by Inaguration Day.

And the election fights will pale in comparison to the hissy fits they will be throwing once Kerry's actually in office. Think the 8 year smear and fight that was the Clinton presidency, with the volume turned all the way up, 24/7 for the whole 4 years. Everything, small or large, is going to be a yard by yard, house to house fight. I desperately want Kerry to win, for judicial appointments if nothing else, but unless some Congressional and Senate Republicans manage to develop some backbones and intellectual integrity, it's just going to be Swift Boats, Swift Boats, Swift Boats, all over again.

Anonymous said...

"I have no idea if Kerry will win and I'm not even sure if I want him to..."

OK, I'm new here and don't really know what this blog is about. But is this a political scientist who is an undecided voter? How can that be possible? You're one of "those" people?

Anonymous said...

If Kerry wins, there likely will be evidence of that possibility before the event. I mean, I'm relatively confident of a Bush win, but if you'd asked me in May whether that was likely I wouldn't have been nearly so confident. Similarly, if the polls show that Kerry is leading before the election, that'll prepare me for the possibility.

What that has to do with whether there would be efforts to delegitimize Kerry's victory isn't readily apparent. Of course there would be efforts. That's what's done these days.

Anonymous said...

re: draft

bush has already made wide use of a backdoor draft, calling up (and back) former military people who would have never thought they would see action. why is it so outrageous to suspect that the Bush Doctrine won't require more soldiers than the armed forces can currently supply? and what happens then? god knows we don't ask the french for help...

Philip Klinkner said...

In re: Palooka's claim that I concede many of his points about the Swift Boat vets, I concede him nothing.

Rothko said...

Palooka, just keep telling yourself that it's Kerry who is the liar and the fear monger and you can plausibly deny that Dick "a Kerry Presidency will lead to more terrorist attacks" Cheney and George W. "I served honorably, I've always supported the 9/11 commision, I've always wanted a Department of Homeland Security, I've adequately funded No-Child Left Behind, Sadaam had WMD's, ummm wait..." Bush are the honest, good-hearted christian warriors who suffering at the hands of the left-wing hate machine.

Yup a Republican...and more importantly a Bush...would never play politics cheap and dirty...I mean hell they wouldn't be allowed back to Kennebunk if they did such a thing.

PS. Palooka, I love the rants. I love the self-delusion. Keep it up man...you give me the inspiration to keep growing organic vegetables and sowing hemp necklaces...

Anonymous said...

Nor should you conceded "Palooka" anything, Phil. Anyone who believes that W might win NY has parted ways with rational thought.

Charles Riedmueller said...

"In fact, some won't and will do everything they can to delegitimize Kerry's victory"

Sounds familiar . . .

Rothko said...

Palooka,

Kisses! Anything to keep you amused...you keep me in stiches all day.

Anonymous said...

The Guard was never intended to be a major source of front-line troops. The IRR's were envisaged as occasional fillers, not mass substitutes. They know it: look at the response in those South Carolina units. There is real trouble in Bushworld.