Bush Administration Mulling How to Delay Election

[PSU84]

U.S. Mulling How to Delay Nov. Vote in Case of Attack

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. counterterrorism officials are looking at an emergency proposal on the legal steps needed to postpone the November presidential election in case of an attack by al Qaeda, Newsweek reported on Sunday.

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge warned last week that Osama bin Laden (news - web sites)'s al Qaeda network may attack within the United States to try to disrupt the election.

The magazine cited unnamed sources who told it that the Department of Homeland Security asked the Justice Department (news - web sites) last week to review what legal steps would be needed to delay the election if an attack occurred on the day before or the day of the election.

The department was asked to review a letter to Ridge from DeForest Soaries, who is the chairman of the new U.S. Election Assistance Commission, the magazine said.

The commission was created in 2002 to provide funds to the states to the replace punch card voting systems and provide other assistance in conducting federal elections.

In his letter, Soaries pointed out that while New York's Board of Elections suspended primary elections in New York on the day of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, "the federal government has no agency that has the statutory authority to cancel and reschedule a federal election."

Soaries wants Ridge to ask Congress to pass legislation giving the government such power, Newsweek reported in its latest issue that hits the newsstands on Monday.

Homeland Security Department spokesman Brian Rochrkasse told the magazine the agency is reviewing the matter "to determine what steps need to be taken to secure the election."

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1895&u=/nm/20040711/us_nm/politics_election_terror_dc&printer=1

[DoYouEverWonder]

1. The right to vote

is the most important right that a US citizen has.

It is the sworn duty of the POTUS and the leaders of the US Government to assure this right is protected, no matter what.

If Bu$h & Co. is not willing to do everything they can to protect that right, then let the traitors resign sooner, rather than later before they do any more damage to our country.

[flordehinojos]

4. canceling elections due to fear factors or delusions of attack

canceling elections due to fear factors, delusion of being under attack by an invisible enemy, or simply put: to keep holding on to the seat of power is what people outside the bush bubble call a DICTATORSHIP! ;(

[proud patriot]

2. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

:grr:

[Don_G]

3. Let Them Mull

I predict disaster if it happens.

[PoohStuff]

5. These are the questions I feel ppl should be asking...

Help me out if I miss any...(and plz correct me if I'm misled)


1. Why are they even mulling over how to suspend the elections, and why aren't even the republican (people not government) upset with the suspension of their constitutional rights? If the Bush admin is OH SO confident in winning the next election and that they are doing the right thing, then the people (Dem or not) will vote him in, right?

2. If they are worried about a terrorist attack preventing the elections, why on earth the first thing they think of is suspending the elections? We are supposed to have the most sophisticated technological scanning equipment, broad range of intelligence, but we can't find ANYBODY. (well, there is Saddam Hussein, but they're reports of the Kurds finding him first, we got in contact with the Kurds, so I don't believe that.) Why suspend the elections?


3. Why oh WHY isn't a alternative emergency voting procedure? We file our taxes on-line, again with the sophisticated equipment argument.

4. How come on 9/11 people were told life should go on, so go to work in the rest of the country, but NYC had delays, only to suspend and talk about suspending a national election months before the actual event for a terrorist attack? Are they saying that it's going to be nation wide, adding more fear into the people?

[newyawker99]

12. Hi PoohStuff!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[ClassWarrior]

6. It's Yahoo - rate it 5!

n/t

[Connie_Corleone]

7. Wrong focus

Maybe they should concentrate on trying to prevent the "attack" fron happening.

You know, like they should've done in 2001 instead of going on month long vacations.

[PoohStuff]

9. Amen, Amen Amen. n/t

[oasis]

8. Somebody should get a comment from the Chimp.

[Renew Deal]

10. I sent a letter to my shithead congressman

Peter King is essentially a freeper, but I sent it anyway.

[Moderator]

11. PSU84

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
paragraphs from the
copyrighted news source.



Thank you.


DU Moderator

[Zen]

13. I'm glad * is making sure that the terrorists don't win by changing our

way of life :eyes: They should plan for all possible outcomes though - I'm just not sure why this story is being reported. Clinton would never play a silly game like this to scare people, why would these idiots do this? Oh, that's right, to scare people.

WATCH OUT, THE BOOGIE MAN IS GONNA GET YA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Two-bit loosers.