dare I say it: is anyone else worried for Dean's safety?

[cybildisobedience]

Last night, as I watched the NYC event on C-Span, I started getting a sinking feeling that as Dean gains steam, the plans to "take him out" will become more sinister and will go beyond the typical GOP/media smear or dirty tricks campaign. I started worrying that there wasn't enough security there, or that he was too exposed up on stage.
Is it me? Anyone else share this concern?

[demnan]

1. Yes!

I remarked the same to my friend last night.

She said, "yeah, then we'll know the plane crash wasn't an accident".

[wryter2000]

2. I've been thinking the same thing

Not an official Repug take-out, but some crazed RW loony like the ahole who rear-ended the Dixie Chick's bus.

[onehandle]

3. "They" didn't "take out" Gore...

Relax.

[barbaraann]

4. They didn't need to.

They destroyed him with smears and Florida. They knew all along they had it in the bag.

[onehandle]

8. They'll smear anyone we put up...

Same as it ever was...Same as it ever was...Same as it ever was...

[barbaraann]

21. They could smear Mother Teresa.

And the whore media would repeat the smear until it became folklore.

[joe1991]

22. Yep, "political assasination" is their current method of choice

I personally think if they "take out" anyone it'd be Bush.
They'd be rid of the dufus, plus have their own "JFK".

[newyawker99]

24. Hi joe1991!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[tom_paine]

25. No way. Busheviks don't get assassinated

They are the ones ordering the assassinations.

[Demobrat]

5. I'm very scared for him.

I just can't imagine the Repukes letting this campaign of his gain much more steam. I truly, truly hope he and his staff are realistic about what they're dealing with.

[alphafemale]

6. Hubby and I both thought same thing last night.

That crowd made me tense.

Security is needed.

That said.

IF - some fool dared to try anything?

There would be no need for trial.
They would be rended alive.
Right there. In the crowd.

We are NOT standing still for right-wing hit goons again.

[HFishbine]

26. Yes and no

I too had a moment of aprehension when Dean went wading through the crowd last night. But then I thought, "This is great!" How refreshing to see a candidate who is actually willing to walk among the people.

[Raenelle]

7. I hadn't thought of it, but now that you mention it . . .

it might be better if he stayed out of planes.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

9. since Dean is an establishment candidate, I doubt it

Then again, if he seems to be poised to beat Bush, which I do not believe, I wouldn't put it past the BFEE. Avoid those small planes.

[Kamika]

10. Im actually worried of assassination

They have gotten so extreme im sure the more extreme ones seriously considers murdering whoever gets nominated, since "god" is behind bush and everything.

I wouldnt worry to much about media trashtalking etc

[aquart]

11. Not unless he wins.

We have a very good pool of contenders this time out, we really do. If Dean is eliminated, it doesn't remove the possibility of defeat.

Personally, I suggest a VERY liberal vice president. Someone who scares them even more.

[denverbill]

12. At this point, I'm not worried.

If he starts regularly outpolling Bush, then I'm going to start worrying. If it's July 2004, and Dean is beating Bush 55-45, sure as hell some paranoid freeper-type will declare his own personal war.

[Clete]

13. Yes, and I have even said so on this board

long before he started to get national media attention. I don't put anything past BFEE. I hope he plans on hiring some form of security until he is safely in the White House, should he win the election, and has the SS to protect him.

[trogdor]

14. That would be the stupidest thing they could possibly do.

The last thing the Bushies need is a Democratic martyr, which is exactly what Dr. Dean or any other Dem. candidate would become if such a thing (God forbid) were to happen. You would then see a voter backlash against the Bush regime the likes of which have never been seen before.

[salin]

15. For the same reason they won't "plant" WMDs

they won't do something such as an assassination. Character assassination? Sure - count on it. Rat-fucking ala Don Segretti? That is how Rove got his start and continues to operate (up to the point of... commiting treason by compromising US national Security information re: an operative working on tracking international flow of WMDs).

But there is SO much skepticism re: the evidence going to war - that planting weapons - real WMDs would be too big a risk - as the international press (and eventually the US press) has been able to debunk ALL that they do. The risks are far to great. So they try to twist borderline evidence. Hence the "September announcements" ala Kay - who has already been discredited - and we can already guess is going to give very borderline evidence - that the neocons in their insulated world think is the "Aha - everyone will believe us!" and as usual they will be wrong.

In the same way, though I do not subscribe to the foul play theories of Wellstone or Carnihan (I know - some of you do - lets just agree to disagree), there has been SO much skepticism and public skepticism - that something happening to Dean - just as he is picking up exceptional momentum - would be suspect in even a greater way than RFK or JFK - just due to timing and recent deaths/speculations.

[revcarol]

16. I am worrried about ALL the candidates' safety,

except one, of course.

EVERY ONE OF THEM IS A DANGER TO A CLOSED SECRET SOCIETY.

[ComerPerro]

18. "every candidate, except one, of course"

Is it because he is safe, or because you don't care.

Me, I am somewhere inbetween...

[RamboLiberal]

28. Same here - but I worry about "Except One" too

I don't want him to be a martyr. But with the Tecumseh curse and all the people he's pissed off - well. And I wouldn't want to be a member of his family. Be quite a coup for Osama or even Saddam.

And I'll even :tinfoilhat: - I wouldn't put it beyond the PNAC'ers if it looked like he was going down in flames in '04.

[HootieMcBoob]

17. That's so weird

I was thinking the same thing probably at the same time you were. I was just really excited and moved by the number of people at that rally. People of all ages but more importantly just tons of young people. It was huge!

And I started to wonder about how safe he was in a crowd like that and how I wouldn't put anything past those people. I told myself that I'm just a paranoid tinfoil type and forgot about it but yeah I was thinking the same thing.

[cmf]

19. I was just thinking about it this morning.

I'm just as nervous about some paranoid Freeper recluse with a scope on his gun as I am about a BFEE conspiracy. I was thinking at the rally in Seattle that some sniper could have easily shot him from a balcony on Westlake center.

[T Roosevelt]

20. Had the exact same thought (probably at the exact same time)

and it is truly sad that so many of us can even consider the possibility - a sad statement on life in America today. Of course, just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you...:tinfoilhat:

[hippiechick]

23. I was afraid to look, but also afraid to change the channel

Last night ... it was a feeling reminiscent of watching the Bobby Kennedy LA Acceptance Speech ...

Please DFA, get him some SECURITY and double check every INCH of that jet, every day !!!!



:hippie:

[RamboLiberal]

27. Yes - I was having RFK flashbacks as he waded in to the crowd

Come on Dean campaign - till you get Secret Service - use some of that 1 million we gave to get him professional security. And include in that threat assessment like many in Hollywood and public life use i.e. like that guy - Gavin De Becker(you might've seen him on the cable news shows) - does for clients.

[LeftHander]

30. Me too

RFK was well on his way to the nomination. We know what the result was.

[ThirdWheelLegend]

29. Why? Who would be behind an attack?

TWL

[ArkDem]

31. Chris Matthews is worried that his shirt collars are

too small.

[Bertrand]

32. Please Stop

with the unfounded fucking conspiracy theories.

[mandyky]

33. Since this campaign reminds me so much of the RFK campaign

I have been having flashbacks, esp. since hearing that the freepers started making threatening noises before the tour. He reall does need more security.

When I first heard the tour was on a chartered plane, I thought of Wellstone, but felt better once I learned it was a 737, full of journalists. I think they will be sneakier than that if they resort to violence.

[jburton]

34. He did have security last night

Watch Cspan...

When he is walking through the crowd listen carefully to the open mike. The guy in front of him is a plain-clothes security person.

Also, there were congresspersons there, so you know security was beefed up.

To get a permit for a 10,000+ rally you're required to have a detailed security plan. A certain amount of cops, no-parking zones, porta-potties, and all of that.

This campaign is way too organized to overlook something as basic as security.

[AlinPA]

35. Yes, I fear the rPigs will see him get "too strong"

They will do anything to stop a candidate who may beat Bush.