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Hari Kari

No not the Cubs broadcaster.

What will happen if McCain wins?

Even without post-November 4th rumors of rigged voting machines and the like, an Obama loss will be a deeply, traumatically depressing event for Democrats and other Obama enthusiasts. (Whereas if McCain loses, who will be seriously bummed outside of the McCain household?)

There will be so many facets of potential unhappiness. That an eloquent, inspiring, intelligent, subtle black candidate lost?and if it?s close, it?ll be true that racism beat him . . . That the rest of the world will be reaffirmed in their belief that America is the land of nincompoops (or worse). That a war with Iran looks a lot likelier . . . That Sarah Palin won it for the Republicans, and gives a bad name to feminism and (terrifyingly) has a one-in-six (Russian roulette!) chance of becoming president before 2013.?

Tom Bevan, co-founder of Real Clear Politics, was succinct: ?Two words: Hari Kari. The base of the [Democratic] party is so vested in its nominee?that to lose in November would be one of the most demoralizing in the modern era.?

I wouldn't go as far as suicide, but certainly plentiful accusations of vote rigging and disenfranchisement. The one possible exception is if McCain wins big (with Michigan, New Mexico, or Pennsylvania). Then the sheer size of the victory will make allegations of vote rigging in any given state less resonant.

Full post as published by Expressio Unius on September 17, 2008 (boomark / email).