Why does conceding matter?

[SteveG]

Trump thinks a concession is a newsstand in the building lobby.

[rjmacs]

Speedy wrote:
It can't happen here.

(Biting my tongue to forestall an elmo moment.)

Ooooookay. Well, back to twiddling my thumbs. Nothing to see here, move along!

[Janit]

Speedy wrote:
[quote=samintx]
A reasonable concession speech by Trump would be a signal to his minions "Its OK" but if he doesn't give a concession speech his followers are apt to start violence because their leader refuses to accept the election as legitimate.

I doubt if there will be violence. There wasn't in 2000 and there won't be this time. The nearest thing to violence in 2000 was when Republican officials and campaign volunteers showed up where ballots were being recounted. I remember video showing future UN Amb. John Bolton in the crowd.
The 2000 election did not involve the kind of hate-mongering that has characterized Trump's campaign. He has been inciting racial, ethnic, and gender-based hatred, and it is naive to assume that the high level of fear and anger he has stirred up won't spill over into action. We can hope that people will restrain themselves, but we can't assume it.

The Donald has issued veiled threats encouraging people to shoot Hillary and to intimidate voters in "those places, you know where they are." He has advocated violence without saying so explicitly, but everyone knows exactly what he means. A failure to concede gracefully is likely to be taken as a further incitement to anyone who is itching for a fight.

[Speedy]

I really expected the alt.right to go gunning for Pres. Obama and some probably did. The Secret Service has done a fine job of protecting him!

[$tevie]

Acer wrote: Maybe he was at the Penny Loafer Rebellion.

:jest: