Are there any laws that W could use to stay in office without an election?

[Pert_UK]

Just wondering......imagine if it becomes clear that Bush will lose the next election and he doesn't want to go. What could he do to hold on?

For example, if Bush launched an all-out war / nuclear attack on North Korea, would he be able to invoke any legislation that means that Presidents can't be challenged / changed during times of national crisis?

It's just a worrying thought that occurred to me today........

P.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. No

Not last time I checked.

Please click here.

[Maple]

2. State of emergency

and martial law.

Constitution null and void.

So is most everything else.

I think they still allow you to breathe, but don't count on it.

[izzie]

7. I am to lazy to go read but is this in writing?

I have always heard it can be done but I am not really sure. I have never thought about it really to be worried about it.We have the Passi law so it must have been worried about at one time.

[Yupster]

3. There isn't any law saying that there needs to even be an election

The Constitution says the president is elected by electors.

Those electors are chosen as such ...

"Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors..."

Remember during the Gore-Bush Florida fight... The Florida Legislature (Republicans) said if the courts decided against them, they would just name their own slate of electors.

The founding fathers didn't assume there would be a popular vote for president. It can be done constitutionally just fine without one.

[Gore1FL]

6. Thats true Federally

but state laws dictate how the electors are chosen. Therefore, despite No national law demanding election, 50 state laws would have to be annulled for a "no election" scenario.

[quinnox]

4. No

Even during the civil war, there was an election.

[TankLV]

15. Quadruple "NO!"

Not even during war of 1812, when white house and capitol were burned, and British occupied DC, we still had elections.

Had elections during WW 1 & 2.

I think all 4 examples were infinitely more criticle times, and yet elections proceeded routinely.

There is simply NO excuses for canceling any elections.

If the repukes ever tried that, I will state once again, that I will be among the first to call for the overthrow that illegal government BY ANY AND ALL MEANS POSSIBLE.

Let them try!

GIVE ME LIBERTY, OR GIVE ME DEATH. There is NO middle ground

[leftofthedial]

5. why?

he didn't use laws to seize power. Why would he need laws to keep it?

[ObaMania]

8. If there are...

.. he'll find it and use it. 'Course DEMs will sit on their ass, and 'PUBs will cite critics as unpatriotic.

Move along now... nothing to see here.

[iangb]

9. According to....

....this http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20020607.html

there's nothing to stop him.

<snip> Our present emergency laws and regulations are a hodgepodge, a patchwork quilt. They respond to precedents from past great crises, and that is wise, but unfortunately these precedents do not contemplate a protracted war on terrorism, or an enemy unlike any we have ever confronted.

Congress has the power to determine whether it wants the American equivalent of a constitutional dictator in the White House. The only way to be certain that we don't make that decision during a crisis, is to revise and codify our emergency laws now - before fear and anger in the aftermath of a possible attack might cause us to make bad decisions, and too easily trade liberty for security in numerous areas.

more.....

[Karenina]

10. Laws, schmaws

Who needs 'em when you got Diebold counting the votes???

[iangb]

11. Because you should be thinking...

......and acting on this.:kick:

[The Lone Liberal]

12. Hitler’s Law

It is recorded that Hitler once responded to a question of legality with “here I stand with my bayonets and there you stand with your laws, who do you think shall prevail?”

[iangb]

13. ..and Hitler prevailed, but.....

......the Dems and the American people would never let that happen in the US........would they?

[maine_raptor]

14. Read

"It Can't Happen Here" by Sinclair Lewis sometime, my friend.

[iangb]

16. "It Can't Happen Here".....

......is apparently out of print...(and considered 'dangerous and seditious').

I did like the quote (in a review): "Blessed are those who don’t think they have to go out and Do Something About It!" (Doremus Jessup).

[Resistance Is Futile]

17. Beyond law

Cancelling elections or attempting a third term goes so far beyond the bounds of the law that the only thing which will matter is who decides to listen to the dictator (certainly not 'president' at that point) and how many guns they have.

'Hitler's law' is very apt.

[iangb]

18. Not "beyond the Law"....

As the link above ( http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20020607.html ) points out, the President's emergency powers are virtually unlimited.

<snip> "We've been blessed with strong presidents in times of national crisis. They were men who demonstrated a capacity for leadership, and men who acted undemocratically, but only to preserve our democracy.

We've been fortunate, for the distinction between a "constitutional dictator" and a strong president is remarkably thin, if not non-existent. As Writ columnist Michael Dorf has noted, there are few checks on our Commander in Chief."

The point is, it's not too late to pressure Congress to have those laws ammended.

[iangb]

19. Kick!!! n/t