Could * stop the election?

[goclark]

Could they change or stop the election because of the "high state of alert or a terrorist attack?"

[Goldmund]

1. They'd have to

abolish the consitution "in favor of a military form of government", as Richard Myers said in an interview for the Cigar Afficionado magazine a few months ago.

[parasim]

8. Tommy Franks said that

in Cigar Afficionado magazine (perhaps myers said it as well?)

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2003/11/21/63054/774

[Goldmund]

9. Sorry about that

You're right, my bad.

[Ugnmoose]

2. Damn right

And don't think that is not beyond them to do.

[yellowcanine]

3. No, not unless they are willing to start another Civil War. Not even

Shrub would stoop that low. Now Cheney, I wouldn't be so sure about.

[damnraddem]

7. Sure Dubya would stoop that low.

But I doubt that he could. The military is not necessarily very happy with the Bushistas right now.

[Ironpost]

17. just a friendly question

After the last three and a half years, you can make that statement... Don't mean to be ugly.

[Cat Atomic]

Why bother, when you can just terrorize the public right before the

election, and rig the voting machines. Bush manages win despite his phenomenally low approval rating, and all they have to do is praise the american public for 'not giving in to the terrorists like the Spanish did'.

[Beaverhausen]

4. I think they are preparing us to do just that

I wouldn't put anything past these people anymore.

[NMDemDist2]

5. if they try that, my hubby says even he'd hit the streets in protest n/t

[NinetySix]

18. I think a lot of people would hit the streets...

...but just think how many people there would be who simply "disappeared" to go underground. If the Constitution were suspended, an American resistance movement would certainly spring up very quickly to fight for its reinstatement.

"The tree of Liberty must occasionally be refreshed with the blood of Patriots and tyrants" --Thomas Jefferson

[Justice]

6. On a Much Smaller Scale

I recall discussion about postponing the elections in NYC in 2001. Rudy floated or supported the concept, then back away from it because so many were rumbling no.

In some respects, I could see why one would support the idea of postponement (continuity, in NYC the wound was still bleeding). However, having been thru that experience, and seeing that the regularly scheduled election, changever did not slow process or hinder healing, it would be a hard sell for Bush to do it.

[WoodrowFan]

10. No. (NT)

[hughee99]

11. He wouldn't

At most he could put off the election for a few weeks, and if he did, he would lose in a landslide because of it (maybe 65-35 popular vote). His people know that he's better off taking his chances in November where he at least has a chance at another 50 - 50 split... IMHO.

[iangb]

12. "In the interests of saving this great nation, and......

.....it's people from the imminent threats facing us; using the Emergency Powers granted to me by Congress I hereby declare the elections of 2004 cancelled."

The extent of those powers could be challenged in SCOTUS.........I wonder what they'd do.

[jpgray]

13. Yes, but I don't think he will. (nt)

[iangb]

15. A lot of people "didn't think......"

...that they'd start an illegal war based on lies and/or guesswork either.........well they did.

A lot of people "didn't think" that they could steal an election......they did.

A lot of people "didn't think" that the American people would stand for having their Constitutional rights ripped up and trashed.........they have.

Until/unless you realise that these guys represent a real danger to your nation (and ours.....and most everybody else's), they'll keep on steamrolling along, and no amount of "they wouldn't dare" will stop them.

[jpgray]

19. All those things have precedents (nt)

[Darranar]

14. Perhaps....

it would be a risky move, though; they'd probably prefer to win through more conventional methods, ie fear-mongering, the hacking of election machines, an "October Surprise" consisting of capturing Osama, etc.

[BillZBubb]

16. Not for a high state of alert. Even they couldn't pull that off.

But he could after a major incident. Declare martial law. Commander in Chief suspends elections until the "crisis" has passed.

[napi21]

21. Could but won't.

I think even Rove realizes the country wouldn't stand for it. He wants to keep his job, and of course W in the WH, but none of them want total rebellion.

Ya know, we all say Shrub stole the 2000 election. I wonder, really, how many elections would have been a lot different if all the votes would have been counted? A {residential election hasn't been as close as the 2000 one since 18XX. I truly wonder if Clinton would have won by ....... 59%-41% or maybe McGovern lost by only 5%. I guess we'll never know. I just think problem has been around for a long time, and just didn't become so apparent until 2000.

[Justitia]

20. Looks like "Step One" to me -eom

[Geo55]

22. Nah.....

Bushco is cookin' on all burners....deceit , subversion , the usual.
They probably think they can snow enough swing votes.
Besides , they don't want to break the country....just own it.

[ILeft]

23. I want a reporter to ask Bush to pledge elections will be held...

...no matter what threats face the Nation. I want someone to force Junior to stumble around trying to find the right weasel words that he thinks give him a way out, because he knows cancelling the elections to stay in power is an option. This possibility needs to be part of the public dialog.

[Geo55]

24. I want a reporter to ask Bush

Your assuming a press conference.....a real one ?

[meagain oh no]

25. The answer is NO

It cannot happen. Executive Privilege does NOT extend to suspension of constitutional process. The presidential election on the first Tuesday of each November every four years is in the Constitution. Don't buy this bullshit.