We Are Becoming a Banana Republic

How else do you explain the need for this:

Police departments in cities across the country are beefing up their ranks for Election Day, preparing for possible civil unrest and riots after the historic presidential contest.

Public safety officials said in interviews with The Hill that the election, which will end with either the nation’s first black president or its first female vice president, demanded a stronger police presence.

Some worry that if Barack Obama loses and there is suspicion of foul play in the election, violence could ensue in cities with large black populations. Others based the need for enhanced patrols on past riots in urban areas (following professional sports events) and also on Internet rumors.

Democratic strategists and advocates for black voters say they understand officers wanting to keep the peace, but caution that excessive police presence could intimidate voters.

Sen. Obama (Ill.), the Democratic nominee for president, has seen his lead over rival Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) grow in recent weeks, prompting speculation that there could be a violent backlash if he loses unexpectedly.

Cities that have suffered unrest before, such as Detroit, Chicago, Oakland and Philadelphia, will have extra police deployed.

In Oakland, the police will deploy extra units trained in riot control, as well as extra traffic police, and even put SWAT teams on standby.

“Are we anticipating it will be a riot situation? No. But will we be prepared if it goes awry? Yes,” said Jeff Thomason, spokesman for the Oakland Police Department.

“I think it is a big deal — you got an African-American running and [a] woman running,” he added, in reference to Obama and GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin. “Whoever wins it, it will be a national event. We will have more officers on the street in anticipation that things may go south.”

There's only a 50% chance that things will go south, Officer. If the woman loses, there won't be women rampaging through the streets breaking windows, destroying property, setting fires, and killing people who don't look like them. However, there are groups of people who have had a history of rioting even when their team (or candidate) wins. So just because the African-American wins doesn't mean there won't be riots. There may well be a new sense of "entitlement" to whatever the neighborhood liquor store or electronic goods store happens to have on its shelves.

If the African-American loses, the inner cities will explode and there will be entire areas of this country that will be unsafe for travel by anyone who doesn't look like the loser. If Obama loses, I'd suggest staying home for a few days until the National Guard can get everything under control again.