We cannot know how long this will be needed so much as to be normal but this nation most certainly needs hardened defenses on the ground in the Capital because the expectation of political violence is now so normal as to be prepped for ahead of time. That time is now as fencing and solid barriers have been erected around the Capital, the White House, and even the Vice-President’s residence at the Naval Observatory (Which I always thought sounded so classically romantic and cool) – all now needing to be defended against armed mobs. Defended by its own citizens against its own citizens.
It is November 4th and we go into tomorrow with a few expectations and nearly no assurances. If there is an immediate and obvious Trump victory that is declared early Wednesday morning based on clear returns, violence is almost inconceivable. Protests against Trump administrations policies and regulations may result in violence down the road but highly unlikely during the election season. So goes one scenario. A clear Trump win, no resulting violence.
Security fencing has been placed around the White House, Capitol, and VP residence in preparation for tomorrow's elections. https://t.co/bG5WVMphLT pic.twitter.com/aFpUwN3Z81
— End Time Headlines (@EndTimeHeadline) November 4, 2024
There is a real worry that Trump-supporters will violently lash out against a close election that is not called by Wednesday morning – Michael Flynn predicted violence will ensue if Trump isn’t declared the victor very early in the count. However, it feels unlikely that the violence will center on Washington DC – not as a first worry, but might coalesce around places counting the vote. We have seen reports that Arizona is prepared with police SWAT teams in place to protect the vote count. It is not impossible to envision violence in Washington in response to counting. It does feel unlikely.
And so now the nightmare. If Kamala Harris wins she will want to win by the greatest margin achievable. It shouldn’t matter, a win is a win. But it absolutely does. In such a scenario there is the fear that Trump supporters will again meet such a result with a violent blowback. But if the results are close Trump-supporters may await court cases and then look toward January 6th and Congress with extremism. One can easily envision the threat of violence spurning on a Republican Congress to toss out the results. In such a case it is easy to envision a violent clash among younger activists from both sides descending on the city. These defenses aren’t coming down any time soon.
It would be the worst nightmare. We have been one of the few nations to have avoided just this scenario. The 2000 election came down to 537 votes in Florida. No one lashed out violently, there were no threats to political enemies, no loyalty tests, January 6th was a foregone conclusion – then Vice President Al Gore tossed aside objections to the certification of his loss. It was an abnormal election with a very normal ultimate result, a peaceful and uneventful transfer of power. In 2020, we saw a normal election end with an abhorrent violent transfer of power as a response.
It may happen again. The nation’s capital is prepared according to MSN News:
Still, signs of caution proliferated this weekend, as the Secret Service erected new, eight-foot-high metal fences around the White House and Treasury Department complex, and adjacent parts of Lafayette Square, as well as outside the Naval Observatory grounds and Harris’s residence. The Capitol reintroduced temporary bicycle-rack barriers posted with signs stating, “Police Line: Do not cross,” surrounding its perimeter. The agency also is installing physical security measures outside the West Palm Beach, Florida, convention center where Donald Trump will hold his election-night party, not far from his residence at Mar-a-Lago.
Okay. But doesn’t it already send shivers down your spine? It should. The United States of America has been forced to bunker its capital city down to protect it from its own citizens.
WASHINGTON PREPARING FOR NOV 5 US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Protective fences are being erected at the White House, the Capitol and the Harris residence.
Owners of nearby offices, cafes and shops are also boarding up doors and windows in case of possible riots, local media… pic.twitter.com/IvuKicgOYc— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) November 4, 2024
Shudder.
As for Election night security, it will not be needed at the Vice President’s residence but will be needed in Washington DC. From The Hill:
Harris will spend Election Night at her alma mater, Howard University, in D.C. The Washington, D.C. Police Department said in a post Sunday that there will be street closures, no parking zones and transit detours for the surrounding area.
Sounds like a plan. Ideally everyone, from Florida to Washington to Arizona and Philadelphia all stays safe. It just seems highly unlikely that the country will get through the next two months without people being killed. The capital is prepping.
God Bless: I can be reached at [email protected] and @JasonMiciak
That little shit flynn needs to be the FIRST one up against the wall. He wore a fucking uniform and committed treason.
I get that President Biden is worried about an Insurrection pt. deux and he should indeed be worried about such a thing and plan accordingly. I also think that actual polling places are likely to be in grave danger. I hope someone is planning for that possibility (and I think it’s a probability actually).
Spike, I agree!
However, can Trump say anything to spur the MAGAs on? He has to stay quiet lest fomenting violence becomes an aggravation feature of the Nov 26 hearing. Almost sertainly guaranteeing at least a short holiday.
Are we now the banana republic that orange menace keeps stating we are?
I worry about other government buildings, particularly Library of Congress and the House and Senate Officer Buildings, and offices for HHS, Education and others he hates. Really, they should be closed on Election Fay