Barack Obama and the threat of assassination

“Assassinate Obama” has now appeared on the top 100 search requests on Google.

So what would happen if Obama was assassinated before the election?

I like to think we live in an enlightened age and these type of events are a thing of the past but history has a habit of repeating itself.

Would there be calm or chaos?

What would happen with the election process?

Matter of fact, this was discussed at the translators' meeting yesterday. Like in 1968 when Bobby Kennedy was killed the Dems would quick-nominate a different candidate and carry on with the elections. You don't vote for the candidate, you vote for the party.

I trust the Secret Service to protect him even if someone tries to do it.

So what are you saying here SB - that Hilary has the most to gain by this because the Democrats are going to win this one regardless?
Imagine the election is a tie and the House votes in Hilary and the Senate vote in Palin. Two women running the USA.

Re post 4- it would be the ultimate nightmare for eurovol and other enthusiastic Obama supporters.

why do you assume that? Most Obama supporters I know didn't hate Hilary. They didn't like the way she conducted the campaign but if she had won they would likely have supported her.

I had in mind Obama supporters like eurovol and moctoj, BTC, who really hate Hillary.

I would be happy with Hilary and Palin running the show.

You know they just might choose Biden ...

*The mental image of BB in a threesome with Hillary and Palin with the ladies running the show has already ruined my weekend*

Could be, but I think it might be very difficult to deny Hillary the nomination under such circumstances (if she wants it, and of course she does).

In 1968 the Dems fought it out:


So it wouldn't be granted to or denied anyone, the way I understand the procedure.

No you don't. In a presidential election, you vote for an elector who is (virtually always) pledged to a candidate. Although some ballots do allow for a straight party-line vote, many don't. Moreover, most people in the US don't vote a party line. I've often splite my vote between parties. Further, you can't vote "player to be named later" for President. I'll have to check my Constitution, but I'm fairly sure that it doesn't allow that.

Edit: RFK was a different situation. He died before the convention leading to the most recent occasion when the convention was more than a four-day long political infomercial. There was plenty of time to get Humphrey's name on the ballot. If Obama or McCain died just before election day, not sure what happens.

That was a regular convention after a primary season, SB. This would be something different, and since there would be no reason to think Biden would be able to win the general election whereas Hillary would not, her much stronger performance vis a vis that of Biden during the primaries would give her the most effective argument to be picked.

@ UpQuark - I expressed my opinion there, not a voting regulation.

But choosing another candidate at this stage would be tricky, people would have to vote ad hoc as there wouldn't be time for any additional campaigning. Let us all hope that this remains a mindgame.

This would never happen as I would not want to ruin my chances with Cindy when McCain soon pops his clogs.

Dunno about the effect on the US elections if this bloke were to be assasinated, but the effect on TT would no doubt be a 238 page long mind-numbingly boring thread about it.

Only if that show was the View.

And what if McCain gets assassinated?...

<tumbleweed>

AARP membership would decline by one?

I hope to Christ it's before getting elected.

After giggling out loud about sarabyrd's tumbleweed response, I think he should get a full honorable military funeral. The whole country would weep that this POW was taken out by an assassin. I can only imagine what would happen if the opposite would happen. (Of course, I would imagine it would be something similiar to Princess Di's outpouring of affection...by some. But then, my mind twitches to those imagines of the children in the middle east partying on 9/11 after hearing of the terrorist attack on US soil. That's the war within my head).

Hmmm..

Both guys get blown up within a few days of each other, election go ahead and are a draw...

The Hilary and Sarah show..

My mind slips back to the Thatcher years...

Lets hope they are not in sync with each other...

This is actzually my greatest fear going into the election. What little amount of integrity we have internationaly will be questioned amongst common people. I hear enough in my travels from people saying how can you live in that racist country? The idea that every american is gun toting is amplified that I decline conversations and I thrive on conversations!!! Despite our failures we are still a great country and I am trying with all my might to remain hopeful for america as well as the human race.

@perdido

I do not actually know anyone that thinks of Americans like that - that's just my friends/family/people I know etc.

As for racist, every country has its problems and if you are from the 'wrong' background (oo-err, he not frum round ere'.. in the sense of the wrong place at the wrong time it can mean trouble.

Be grateful that not everyone in the world thinks that everyone in a particular country is like the leader of said country.

If so this would mean that everyone in the ..

US - comes form Texas, cannot open doors, is petrified (even in the event of a major incident) by a group of kids, does not sound so clever, has trouble at times to string a sentence together, is funny as when trying to be funny they forget how to finish what they were saying, have an ex best mate called tony, will believe - regardless of the evidence, that other people have big weapons.

UK - all the poeple are Scottish and incredibly boring (nothing to do with being Scottish - well maybe :-), like to shout 'boo' a lot to people across from where they are sitting, like brown suits, have an ex no so beat mate best mate called tony.

France - hip, trendy, all have younger model type partners, cool, brown, think their language should be the only one spoken in the world in spite of knowing of the existence of the tv show 'allo allo' and knowing how it sounds in English.

Russia - are all black belts and ex secret police agents, have little hair but still look cool in that 'your going to be dead soon' look.

Poland - you are all related and give your family jobs.

Italy - you own the media and to be fair at least you don't take protection money form the locals (or has been kicked out again?).

Germany - oh, hang on a sec...

If Palin was to get the top job we could add 'knows where Russia is in relation to Alaska' to the us listing.

Just checked, yes, its Friday

Well, I sure hope there are more gun toters than there are racists.

I don't WANT us to be a "great country" any longer. A little suffering is good. And I don't want us to be the "great savior" or whatever it is Palin said, either. Time to look inward a bit and solve domestic problems. Fawk the rest of the world. Nobody wants our help, anyway.

I'm joking. sort of.

Fixed that for you

Wouldn't they just choose another country to invade?

Darts on the board of the world anyone?

I think it would be a toss up between Venezuala and Iran.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/11/ame...ianbombebrf.php

Win!

Me, too. It would return the position of VP to its proper role. As well as protecting Hillary from assassination herself.


That last line is more or less McCain's dying gasp (well, except for the human race part.)

I went to a Hillary rally during the primaries and had to go through airport-style security to get in, so unless Obama takes to driving around in open cars, I don't think there's much chance of assassination. I hope he has a food-taster nevertheless, though.

They managed to assasinate Benazir Bhutto in one of the rare moments she wasn't in her armoured car...

All the security in the world can't stop a determined marksman.

Like they protected JFK?

The fact that nobody has assassinated GW Bush in almost 8 years in office shows that the Secret Service has learned a lesson or two since 1963.

Or the potential assassins have worked out if you shot Bush in the head the bullet would just pass straight through as there is no brain to damage?

W probably made it clear to the potential assassins that any assassination attempt would result in their dismissal from the Secret Service.

It's more than a bit macabre that there is a thread such as this even raising the specter of the assassinations of politicians.

If Obama was assassinated nobody would really give a shit. In the words of N.W.A. he'd just be "another dead nigger".

There's a question in Mind Boggle 'Statistically speaking what is the most dangerous job in the USA'.

The answer is 'President'.

Macabre it may be but you guys have a habit of taking a pop at the boy at the top so it's hardly surprising.

You're dead wrong, BR. A lot of people think much more of Obama than you seem to understand.

Now he's actually been elected isn't the threat even greater? I don't want to offend but the gun laws in the US make it far too easy for weapons to get into the wrong hands. I'm making sure nothing happens to Obama and am clicking here every day to create a virtual shield - it's crazy but it makes me feel a little better! The power of positive thinking at work... http://www.dontshootobama.com

I am protector number 40152.

The Slate Explainer.

I am number 40153 and I am happy to share my positive energy. Hope it helps.

I am disappointed in you marie-claire I always thought you were a fascist like me. You seemed sad when that Austrian Nazi died in a car crash recently.

I am wondering – what is customary - do they have to be shot first before they start naming streets after them?
Maybe one day I will visit Paris and walk along "Le Boulevard Obama les Redistribitore en Chief".
(Kay you can check my froggy spelling and grammar s.v.p.).

@BattalionBoy: seems bizarre that an Englishman who describes himself as a Fascist, also describes himself in his profile as a European

I don't think anyone deserves to die, not even the Austrian Nazi you mentioned, BB.