Krugman: "the crowds at his rallies are, by all accounts, increasingly gripped by insane rage"

[RedEarth]

Something very ugly is taking shape on the political scene: as McCain’s chances fade, the crowds at his rallies are, by all accounts, increasingly gripped by insane rage. It’s not just a mob phenomenon — it’s visible in the right-wing media, and to some extent in the speeches of McCain and Palin.

We’ve seen this before. One thing that has been sort of written out of the mainstream history of politics is the sheer insanity of the attacks on the Clintons — they were drug smugglers, they murdered Vince Foster (and lots of other people), they were in league with foreign powers. And this stuff didn’t just show up in fringe publications — it was discussed in Congress, given props by the editorial page of the Wall Street Journal, and so on.

What it came down to was that a significant fraction of the American population, backed by a lot of money and political influence, simply does not consider government by liberals (even very moderate liberals) legitimate. Ronald Reagan was supposed to have settled that once and for all.

What happens when Obama is elected? It will be even worse than it was in the Clinton years. For sure there will be crazy accusations, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see some violence.

The next few years are going to be very, very tough.

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/10/not-about-the-financial-crisis/

[hedgehog]

1. It makes sense that they would be. The more extreme McCain and Palin get,

the more people who switch to Obama, the higher proportion of dead-enders in the crowds!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Yes, the next few years will be tough.

I'm positive that Obama is aware of the situation, and is ready to deal with it.

I am, as well...

He inspires me.

[billyoc]

5. Easy, killer.

:rofl:

[pnwmom]

3. Krugman's right. The Clinton haters will become the Obama haters.

Any Democrat who thought we could avoid the hate by backing Obama was naive. What the Rethugs can't stand are STRONG Democrats. Any Democrat who broke the odds and succeeded in getting elected would be hated.

[renate]

4. excellent point made in the comments there by "Mike"

(comment left at 2:17)

What I find especially disturbing about these angry “rallies”, beyond the fact that neither McCain nor Palin will try to shame those who yell out threats, is that none of these people are being arrested. How many people have been arrested during the Bush regime for wearing t-shirts and carrying signs that simply expressed their political views?

[Vincardog]

6. We need to kick as many republics as possible out of both the House and the Senate

we can short circuit any BS impeachment. We will be to busy correcting the failings of
RAY-gun-ONIMICS and prosecuting these criminals.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

7. An orgy of apoplexy

The primary difference between the rage progressive voters feel when they are subjected to eight years of corporate fascism and the current Repug rage is that, when progressives feel dissed, they talk about it with anyone who'll listen, hash out differences, maybe even alter their own opinions. Repugs just fume and stew. If they have any opportunity to have a discussion, their pride of ignorance prevents them from doing anything but spew lies and hatred.

Can I say that I am proud to be a progressive?

there may be violence ahead, and certainly difficult times. But I think come November 5, with Obama rightfully (and righteously) elected, a page in history is going to turn. I have great hope for the future.

[Barack_America]

8. The very worst thing you can do is give in to a temper tantrum.

Lock them in their rooms and let them scream it out.

[gemlake]

9. Clinton was under attack 24 hours a day.

The same will happen to Obama. Get ready for the lies, smears, and destructive tactics.

[Window]

10. K/R.

:kick:

[SteveM]

11. Best way to deal with the mob: stand up to them. Hard and fast. (nt)

[Cha]

14. Exactly! Nip it in the fucking bud if this

could still be considered "the bud".

[tomp]

12. they don't want to know about my insane rage.

let 'em try something.

this is such a strange time, i don't think anyone can predict what will happen. but if obama does not win or, if elected, does not do well by the poor and working classes,of is physically attacked, we could see big trouble. this is the stage frank zappa spoke about where the scenery is being removed from the stage and all we will see is the brick wall at the back. what then?

[AntiFascist]

13. Enough with the Clintons...

if they exacerbated the problem, even if the right-wing took it over the top, we need to move on.

[goodgd_yall]

15. That's because they know it's going to be Obama

Their fear is based on their darkest fantasies of what America will be like with a liberal Democrat who happens to be a black man.

[AzNick]

16. This time we will fight and protect our guy!

We need to warn these idiots to stay away and not try anything.

[Hansel]

17. I think Krugman should stick to economics

I don't buy that when Obama is president that it's going to be worse than the Clinton years. The torch is being passed to the next generation and change is going to happen. The Reagan years are over and the Reaganites are gasping their last breaths. And they know it.

Reagan-nomics have best exposed for the disaster they are. People want things to get better and since Obama is one of the best leaders we have had in decades, I think that the right wingers are going to be hard pressed to create the problems they did in the 90's. People have no patience for them anymore. They have been exposed for who they are by the McCain rallies and it's not pretty.

Krugman needs to pay attention. Despite a nearly 2 year long smear and fear campaign against a black man with a angry black preacher and whose name is Barack Hussein Obama, he is winning. That should tell Paul something. This is not going to be a repeat of the 90's. And despite all appearances, the people who act like those at McCain's rallies are in a very tiny minority.

[Kolesar]

20. Tell 'em what you think!

(Yes, I have had this thread open for a while)

[spooky3]

18. We're enraged too

but we're NOT insane.

We are enraged by the incompetence and malevolence of this administration and all their friends.

And we're not going to take it for a day past Nov. 4.

[myrna minx]

19. K&R n/t

[Essene]

21. he is absolutely right, there will be violence... and it isnt just about obama

we're seeing a dark side of america rearing it's head over... i mean... we're seeing a portion of the population that simply fears and hates the future.

at some point in the next 4-8 years, america is going to wake up to sudden realization that we have our own domestic terrorism problem... and it will be growing.