The list of suspects who's goals and tactics will include the undermining of state and federal govt elections here and dividing us , with the eventual goal of weakening our constitutional republic and its hybrid mix of democratic ideals is going to include people radicalized by politics, religion, and class /racial identity. . That means groups foreign aligned with govts or political 'movements', and domestic, right wing, and left wing, Islamic, secular or Christian. Add to that, those who's interest is narrowed to undermining the integrity of elections that they will lose, and we have a list of villains as large as a small town phone book . Some of them may try to turn protests into riots. Some may try to start fires in forests and start blogging campaigns of blame. Some may produce fake videos with cops 'beating' blacks, or blacks attacking whites for facebook. Some will hack into elections or major party computers and exploit our fears. Almost all will engage in disinformation and propaganda campaigns designed to destroy our confidence in our fellow Americans, and our belief in national values and institutions. Its been a very long time since we have been so vulnerable to such tactics, so susceptible to media manipulation, and so full of inflamed tribal loyalties which supersede our sense of nation-hood. This list of radicalized suspects would think of themselves as foolish to miss the opportunities to weaken us both in 2016, and 2020 and in 2024 using the playbook that is working far more effectively than conventional 'terrorist' attacks like 9-11 or or USS Cole or the attacks of 8-7-98 which tend to unify our resolve. And they would be stupid if they did not see midterm or state elections as opportunities to sow seeds of mistrust and division between Presidential elections. My point is that while right now it may be mostly Putin, or radicalized neo fascists, or some single issue groups or anarchists doing what they can to manipulate and compromise our institutions and our discourse, that will change as others smell the blood. Before you guys go to the mat, over who is doing what right now in our cities, on our disinformation highway, or in our elections in September of 2020, based on your partisan sympathies and decide who's fault it is that they can, keep in mind it will change, as suspects get on and off this bus-ride to American distrust and chaos. They will take their turns. Don't limit your imagination or your sources for evidence, based on who you are and who you see as allies and enemies. You will be surprised and shocked tomorrow. I guarantee it.
