AP: More Threats Against Obama Than Other President-Elects

Over at E&P, and here, we have been chronicling threats, racial incidents and physical abuse, surrounding the President-elect and his followers, most carried in local newspapers only.  Now AP has a roundup that focuses on the Secret Service taking many of these matters -- which may seem harmless to some -- seriously.  AP adds a new one:  "And in a Maine convenience store, an Associated Press reporter saw a sign inviting customers to join a betting pool on when Obama might fall victim to an assassin. The sign solicited $1 entries into 'The Osama Obama Shotgun Pool,' saying the money would go to the person picking the date closest to when Obama was attacked. 'Let's hope we have a winner,' said the sign, since taken down."

More from AP:  "One of the most popular white supremacist Web sites got more than 2,000 new members the day after the election, compared with 91 new members on Election Day, according to an AP count. The site, stormfront.org, was temporarily off-line Nov. 5 because of the overwhelming amount of activity it received after Election Day. On Saturday, one Stormfront poster, identified as Dalderian Germanicus, of North Las Vegas, said, 'I want the SOB laid out in a box to see how 'messiahs' come to rest. God has abandoned us, this country is doomed.'" -- Greg Mitchell

Comments

[Vic Livingston]

OBAMA JOB #1: Co-Opt, Disarm a Potential 'Silent Coup'

• 'Rogue elements' could subvert his leadership if not curbed

• Lay plans to put "homeland" agencies under Defense, Justice and Treasury

Contrary to mainstream media conventional wisdom, Barack Obama's most pressing task at hand as President-elect is not dealing with the economic crisis.

As the first order of business, he must take decisive action to consolidate his power and disarm potential rogue elements within the bowels of the apparachik that may be tempted to "test," or even subvert, his leadership.

Major elements of the security complex no longer fall under the purview of the Department of Defense or the Justice Department. Their independence, and an absence of meaningful oversight by Congress, make these entities a potential breeding ground for resistance to his ascension to the presidency.

The situation is compounded by the fact that some of these entities are privy to virtually all channels of communications and surveillance.

President-elect Obama would be wise to co-opt any potential bureaucratic resistance by retaining the services of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and, at least for the short term, Attorney General Michael Mukasey. FBI Director Robert Mueller's term isn't up until 2010; the retention of Gates and Mukasay, along with the continued service of Mueller, would act as a powerful deterrent to potential rogue actors who do not fall under the command of those three key national security officials.

The President-elect should immediately announce the retention of these Bush administration appointees. Then he should lay plans for a Congressionally-mandated reorganization that would once again bring the agencies of the Department of Homeland Security under the direct purview and authority of existing cabinet departments -- notably, Defense, Justice and Treasury.

Such a reorganization would establish greater accountability on the part of the Homeland Security agencies, and would better facilitate meaningful Congressional oversight.

This reorganization would retire the title "Homeland Security," which is linguistically reminiscent of the rhetoric of Nazi Germany.

Gates and Mukasey, it could be argued, already have demonstrated their capability for independent decision-making that puts the national interest above partisan political or ideological considerations. By giving these three officials a vote of confidence now, President-elect Obama would demonstrate bi-partisanship while deterring potential rogue resistance to his leadership.

BUT WILL THE ELECTION EVEN MATTER?

Not as long as government-supported "extrajudicial targeting" vigilante squads are "community stalking" American citizens, making a mockery of the rule of law:

http://www.nowpublic.com/world/american-gestapo-state-supported-terrorism-targets-u-s-citizens
OR members.nowpublic.com/scrivener

[ernieson]

The people inciting the haters and the haters themselves should be classified as terrorists, should be taken out of free society and be treated like the prisoners in Gitmo. Enforce the sedition act. These people are threatening Obama and the govt chosen by the majority of the population. Free speech rights end at inciting murderers.

[Paco]

"And in a Maine convenience store, an Associated Press reporter saw a sign inviting customers to join a betting pool on when Obama might fall victim to an assassin. The sign solicited $1 entries into 'The Osama Obama Shotgun Pool,' saying the money would go to the person picking the date closest to when Obama was attacked. 'Let's hope we have a winner,' said the sign, since taken down."

You can bet that 6-7 years ago, these same people were expounding on how unpatriotic it was to register the slightest criticism of THE PRESIDENT.

[chabuka]

And to think that the right-wing pundits went ballistic when some accused President Bush of "misrepresenting the facts on Iraq, wiretapping, Git-Mo, torture, etc", even going so far as suggesting that criticism of the President Bush, was treason....but those same pundits and MSM will say, nothing (even appearing to encourage, in their silence) threats of death against President elect Obama...incredible..!

[greenpagan]

It would be nice seeing Rush Limbaugh scarfing bagle chips in a tiger cage Gitmo...

"Back Tubar! Back...!"

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[greenpagan]

It would be nice seeing Rush Limbaugh scarfing bagel chips in a tiger cage at Gitmo...

"Back Tubar! Back...!"

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