Serious Question...

[Solon]

Even when we win the 2004 election in a landslide, do any of you think, as I do, that Bush II would not go quietly into the night? Its pretty much a given, with the push of paperless voting machines that his enablers will use ever dirty trick in the book to win, regardless of methods. But what if they fail? Being assured of a loss, would the installers of the Resident sit out for 4 more years and try again, or will they destroy the last resemblance of democracy in the U.S. I just had a chilling thought, first off, WE the People do not elect the president, the Electoral College does. How many states have penalities for electors who vote opposite of the majority of the state and how severe are the penalties? Another tool for Bush to be handed a victory, despite the people's vote perhaps?

[unblock]

1. they will do to dean/kerry/whomever

exactly what they did to clinton. they will smear and harass, ridicule and discredit. they will do everything in their power to keep his political power to a minimum and to stymie him at every turn.

then they will rally behind a new empty suit (jeb?) and say we need a leader capable of unifying the country again....

bush's 'do not misunderestimate me' is a laughable quote, until you remember that when bush says 'me', he really means the massive, well-entrenched, right-wing power base behind him. he just personalizes it because he's a narcissist.

so let's not misunderestimate that power base. if and when bush falls, it will shift to another. the power and the evil will still be there.

[Solon]

2. That might be true, but

These people now have a taste of real power, and if we learned anything from history, it is that when on a power trip, such people will not let it go, usually at any cost.

[Fleshdancer]

3. It might be worse than what they did to Clinton.

The neocon radical rhetoric has gotten REALLY bad over the past several years and since they all expect to win this election without much effort, then it's going to get extremely ugly if they lose. We should probably be preparing ourselves now. It's just as important to get our House and Senate back as it is to get our White House back.

I predict that we'll see the largest Democrat voter turnout in recent history regardless of who the candidate is (well, Lieberman might push some into the Green Party). I honestly don't think the republicans can beat us at the numbers game unless they cheat. We all need to be doing are part to pressure our local and state gov. to not use ANY voting machine that does not have a paper trail. We also need to make sure our minority voters aren't harrassed by police or told they aren't registered when they are. I'm pissed that this crap is still happening.

[Solon]

4. I agree that we must make this election...

as fair and democratic as possible. The question is, is it enough? I hate being the Doomsayer here, but with the total contempt that this administration has for the democratic process, I doubt that they would allow themselves to relinquish ANY power. I'm talking about their use of violence when all else fails. Its been attempted before, by the ideological forbearers of the people currently in power. To say it can't happen here is ludicious. I fear for the safety of the nation, and the countinuation and evolution of its political process. We must do everything in our power to make sure that the election process, this time around, is done legally and fairly. We must use the tools presented to us in the 200+ year evolution of this democracy to win, and to win by the rule of law, for they are the ones who hold contempt for those laws.

[John_Shadows_1]

5. They can't take over the government ....

... illegitimately. The financial markets would experience catastrophic capital flight. America wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

They could, however, rig the voting machines, or continue to, I guess.

[Solon]

6. To say they can't is niavete at best.

The thing is that its been attempted before and it could happen again.
http://www.korpios.org/resurgent/Coup.htm

[Pepperbelly]

7. ACTUALLY ... when you vote in the Presidential election ...

it is for a set of electors who support a given candidate. IOW, if my man Clark were to win, the electors who support him would be the ones elected in my state while Whistle-ass's electors get the short are not elected.

[Solon]

8. That's my point

I know how the process works, however, what is to prevent Bush's enablers from committing fraud at that level. I don't put anything past this band of criminals, including threats and intimidation.

[Pepperbelly]

9. maybe I miscommunicated or ...

maybe I didn't and I am just having trouble understanding your point but what I meant to say is that each candidate puts up a slate of electors in each state and the electors of the winner of the state are the ones selected to go to DC to vote. IOW, if Wesley were to win, the electors elected are those people selected by Wesley's camp who are his supporters.

Now, what I think you are saying is that they might somehow be open to threats and intimidation. I suppose that then becomes a law enforcement problem because theose things are for damned sure felonies.

[Solon]

10. All I'm saying is that Banana Republic tactics

could possibly be used to ensure a Bush victory at any cost. I'm trying to look at from all angles of possible attack, assuming of course, that the current administration has a total contempt for law and order in this country. They have not given me any reason to doubt this assumption. We must ensure that the coming election is as honest as possible, and to do so, must think and plan for the unthinkable. It is the perview of law enforcement, however, what are the chances that they would prosecute on time. If the Republicans are not above using extra-legal means at the poll booth, why not even higher than that?