I'd like to gather all those who knew George Bush would not give up the office.

[Hosnon]

It's a time for reconciliation.

I understand the worry, but it did not happen. The American system has proven itself once more. Those that doubted it need to acknowledge they were wrong.

[Xipe Totec]

1. What are you hoping to achieve?

Seriously, what is your win in this? :shrug:

[Hosnon]

3. Tempering paranoia.

When the claims were made, most knew they were nothing but...

Until today, they could not definitively be proven wrong. If someone will claim for years on end that they know Bush will not go quietly, surely they can accept he or she was wrong.

What do we gain from this thread? An end to the Bush era, and that includes the fear on both sides.

[Brucie Kibbutz]

12. So you've been waiting all this time

to tell everybody "I told you so"? This was actually a big enough issue for you to worry about?

[Hosnon]

14. Damn straight I have.

My faith in this country can't be rattled by one man. And until today, I could not prove the righteousness of that faith.

ETA: "Righteousness" sounds a bit too...religious. To me, this day means that the next time a person you don't like is President, the burden is on you to prove that this country will not flush him/her out as needed.

[Brucie Kibbutz]

18. I can't imagine why you would care.

I'm probably just not observant enough. Oh well, I'll run along and let you enjoy your well earned glory.

[Hosnon]

24. I'm certainly not knocking you.

But many discussions I remember devolved into: "Bush will declare martial law" or something of the sort.

Credibility, especially in this new presidency, demands we lose the irrational fears of the past.

[G_j]

32. My faith in this country can't be rattled by one man

stolen elections, illegal war, countless dead and wounded, constitution, habeas corpus trashed, torture and much, much more.


all happened

[Hosnon]

34. Yet I'd like to introduce you to:

President Barack Hussein Obama.

[NeedleCast]

28. I can only speak for me

but I like the idea of this thread for several reason.

Because since I became a member of DU a few years ago, the sort of tinfoilery the OP mentions has pretty much been a daily presentation. Yes, mostly from a small (but vocal) group of posters who on numerous occasions claimed in some manner that Bush wouldn't leave peacefully, that he'd declare martial law, that we'd nuke Iran, that we'd invade another country, that Bush would empty the prisons with last minute pardons, that the military would be called out to stop the election from happening or influence it in the favor of McCain, etc, etc, etc...

To me, that sort of generally baseless stuff is no better than what the Republicans in general and the Bush administration in particular used to beat the country over the head with for several years. Fear of rumors. Fear of shadows. Fear of fear. It's what go the majority of the country behind the Iraq war. Fear of WMD. Fear of terrorism. Fear of radical Muslims.

It's also people using the most absurd hyperbole to support some unfounded rumor they're claiming. Like the rumors that swirled around election time that an element of 3rd infantry division was being secretly placed at strategic points around the country to stop people from going to the polls in the name of "security." Of course that didn't happen, but did those responsible for spreading the rumor come back with even a "my bad?" Hell no. They just moved on to the next rumor. They weren't about to be talked back from the ledge by sensible responses or questions. It was a hearty FUCK YOU to anyone who dared suggest that their latest scare-mongering was anything but absolute truth.

Yes, we need to keep a diligent eye towards our government, no matter who is in office, but sometimes it gets ridiculous here on DU and it doesn't bother me at all to see some people eat crow over it (not that they're likely to actually admit they were wrong...)

[Hosnon]

29. NeedleCast, you better demonstrated my point than I could have ever done.

Thank you.

[Fire Walk With Me]

2. I seriously believed, nay, felt that they would pull every dirty trick in the book.

Beyond calling Obama a straight up terrorist during the election, and pushing 9/11 buttons...which we all ignored, for a nice change.

Something is definitely going on. It's NOT like those types, those Machievellian sadists, to just take the money and run. They've taken an immense swipe at the middle-class, which they hate, wanting a two-tier system with themselves on top.

Wait, they HAVE taken the money and run...so long as they are somehow removed from any further effect upon politics and finance. Meaning, gut the Patriot Act NOW. We have a lot to rebuild, and I look forward to it with great happiness and desire to contribute.

[LakeSamish706]

4. Hey, I was wrong and admit it... So what? I think some very influential people felt...

the same way that I did. Some of those people include; Naomi Wolff, Naomi Klein and others on DU...... The others on DU can self identify or not....

[Hosnon]

7. Thank you. nt.

[Brucie Kibbutz]

5. I was waiting for the TERROR THREAT LEVEL

to be raised to RED STATUS and martial law to be declared. Remain vigilant, citizens! Behind every blade of grass, there could very well be a bloodthirsty terrist! Don't forget to go shopping! :patriot:

[Subdivisions]

6. I wasn't sure the dickhead wouldn't pull something until the President

said "So help me God".

[gratuitous]

8. I lived through the worst of 1974

And it wasn't always apparent then that Nixon wasn't going to call out the troops and barricade himself inside the White House. I didn't put it past Bush and his bloodthirsty power crazed gang to try something at the last minute. And while I was wrong this time, I was right a LOT more often than I was wrong when I presumed the worst out of these gangsters.

[Hosnon]

11. Well, madam or sir, I respect that.

Those of you that are posting on this thread are making me wonder whether it was necessary to begin with...

[mahina]

9. Ok, I confess, I was wr...wr....wr...wr...

Ahem.
It's possible I may have been mistaken.
Thank God! Never been happier in my whole life to be wro wro wro... mistaken.

[Hosnon]

15. ;) nt.

[Stinky The Clown]

10. Why do they 'need' to acknowledge anything at all?

Sure it was silly and tinfoily ...... but why some need to get them to confess?

[Hosnon]

13. Too strong?

Perhaps "should"? Or is the lack of a consequent still troublesome?

It's really a matter of credibility. It is easy to claim for years on end that Bush will not leave because you will not be proven wrong unless it doesn't happen (at some time in the future). When they said: "Bush won't give it up", someone said: "Yes he will". And the latter had no defense...until today.

And that meek voice of reason deserves recognition, especially today.

[Stinky The Clown]

16. I'll betcha 90% of the people here - where tin foiliness is not uncommon - never thought they ......

.... would try to stay.

The closest I came, personally, was calling 2000 a bloodless coup.

I still do.

[Hosnon]

21. 2000 was different.

I was 18, and barely involved.

But you can't just say something and not own up to it. And many on DU need to own up to it...

[AsahinaKimi]

17. damn...

All that back breaking work training a super killer Ninja squad, and now for what? So what do I tell these guys now? The threat is over, go home? Whats a poor girl to do...





hehe.. JOKING!!!

[Hosnon]

20. I hear CJ Roberts gaffed...

;)

[Catherine Vincent]

19. I remember the freepers were saying the same thing about the Clintons.

It didn't happen.

[Hosnon]

22. 'Scuse me, maam...that's dangerously close to comparing DU to

"that" site...and radicals...

[Catherine Vincent]

26. Well, I didn't set out to compare but I'm just saying that's what was said.

"you would have to pry Clinton's finger's from the White House." I remember it vividly.

[Hosnon]

27. Seems to me this country has some pretty solid foundations.

The most remarkable symbol of the ideals for which this country stands was the acquiescence of the executive branch to a decision, however wrong, of the judicial branch (i.e., 2000).

[Ichingcarpenter]

23. You must be a big hit in bars

After a few drinks

[Hosnon]

25. I'm not following...nt.

[truebluecollar]

30. (sheepishly guilty emoticon)

Every day for the past year and a half I feared that the smoking gun was going to be the Golden Gate Bridge twisted and melted by a small tactical truck-borne nuke with Numbnut standing on the radioactive rubble of the Marina in a HAZMAT suit blaring "We're gonna get these guys this time...no, really...but, in other words, I gotta be dictator." Crazy? Yes. Stupid? Yes. But you must agree, these past eight years have been crazy stupid. Cut me a little slack, huh?

[Hosnon]

35. Crazy, stupid? Yes.

See, I'll play the game: "See!!! Bush DID give it up."

We deserve better than paranoia.

[Sebastian Doyle]

31. If you know all of what the Bush Crime Family has done over the last century

You would know that it would have been completely within character (for lack of a better word) for them to have interfered with the recent election or today's ceremony. The only reason they probably opted out was that there's no money left for them to steal from the American people. That and the fact that one dumbass chimp and a pathetic troll in a wheelchair would not have escaped Washington DC today with a crowd of millions in attendance, had they tried anything at the last minute.

I'd like to think we're done with those bastards for real this time. Hopefully when Poppy dies, it will be the terminal blow to their criminal organization, but I fear that Jeb is already stepping up to fill Poppy's shoes. :(

[Hosnon]

36. Or reality isn't quite as dismall as you believe. I guess either is just as likely. nt.

[Ghost in the Machine]

33. I already admitted I was wrong... but it wasn't because of some whining, sniveling

smug, self righteous snotbag imploring me to do so...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4870779&mesg_id=4870779

Do you feel better now, little one?

[Hosnon]

37. Don't attribute such adjectives to me

Because it makes you feel better.

I merely ask for accountability.

[Hannah Bell]

38. the free republic folks were sure clinton wouldn't leave, either.

the thing is, the two parties are so incestuous (witness the jovial relations between clinton & bush sr, while fellow dem carter's given the cold shoulder) - that should some faction desire to hold power (it's not gonna be one guy, he's gotta have a base of support), they just have to get the right "opposition" candidate elected.

there's more tin foil for you, & even scarier, because the general public wouldn't have clue 1.

[Seldona]

39. "Gather?" Don't you mean call out?

Be honest.

[struggle4progress]

40. Um ... remember when the rightwing noise machine pushed for executive power to postpone elections?

Here's a related story:

Posted 7/12/2004 9:05 AM
Updated 7/12/2004 9:50 AM
Counterterrorism officials look to postpone elections
From staff and wire reports
WASHINGTON — Counterterrorism officials are looking into the possibility of postponing the November presidential election if there is a terrorist attack at election time, Newsweek reported Sunday ... http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-07-12-postpone-elections_x.htm

The SOBs didn't actually win the 2000 election -- and then they started talking about "postponing" the next one! They spoke of "a permanent Republican majority" -- and simultaneously reclaimed Nixon's notion that the President had absolute authority, which they sought to implement in (the fortunately never-passed) Patriot Act II (which would have given the President power to strip anyone's citizenship) and in various other ways (such as rolling back posse comitatus and ignoring habeas). John Yoo claimed the President could order without any limitation, for example, actions such as crushing a child's testicles. They claimed the right to ignore search-and seizure provisions and the right to wiretap without warrants. These matters of historical record suggest their aims clearly -- and the fact, that they seem ultimately unable to have attained their full objectives, does not mean they did not make such an effort. This crowd will try to return: if they do, the reincarnation will be even worse

[treestar]

41. True enough, it was not entirely inconsistent with the * claims regarding

Executive powers in time of war.

The Dem Congress of 2006 and *'s low approval ratings headed it off. But could they have pulled it off, they would have kept trying. They tried to do it "legally" as Hitler did.

They thought Americans would keep following them blindly as they started more wars and used the excuse of 'wartime" to increase their powers. It's a good thing they failed with Patriot Act II. That was their next step.