What if Bush wins?

[Enraged American]

What if the shrub wins the election and we continue to lose seats in Congress? Do you think we've reached the peak of imperialism and suspension of freedoms?

I don't.

Would any of you just say, "F--- it. It's hopeless," and just emigrate out of America if things really get worse?

[demnan]

1. I sure would think about it.

But, I don't think that is what's going to happen. I think the tide is turning.

[morningglory]

18. Tide turning: you all have posted about repugs who have turned,

today in our mullet-wrapper newspaper, repug area in Florida, another letter to the editor regarding "I voted for Bush, but blah blah...never again".

[mb7588a]

2. if bush wins....

I'm going to stay in school until he is out of office. I know there will be a job waiting for me then.

[newyawker99]

12. Hi mb7588a!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[LuminousX]

3. Cross that bridge when I get to it

Because it all depends on the circumstance of the win. If it is a nice wide margin, I shrug my shoulders and realize I am out of tune with the rest of the country. If it is stolen -- nothing will be the same ever again.

[Enraged American]

10. I can;t agree with that.

A wide margin is WORSE than a narrow margin. A narrow margin means that a lot of voters get what's happening. A wide margin gives Bush carte blanche to take away my freedom. After 9/11 and during Iraq a wide majority of Americans supported Bush. IT's not ME who's out of touch with the rest of the country; it's the REST of the country that's out of touch with fucking reality. Excuse the language, but I can't help it in this case.

[Q]

16. The 2000 election was stolen...

...and America shrugged their collective shoulders and went on with life as if nothing had happened. What makes you think they won't 'shrug' a second time?

[boxster]

4. Sadly, I think this is only the beginning.

We must win this election. The future of the US as we know it depends on our ability to stop the destruction after term one. The entire corporate and personal culture of America is being changed by * and his minions.

As bad as it has been already, I think term two could be much worse. I'm sure that Cheney's/Wolfie's plan doesn't stop at four years. I think that they believe wholeheartedly that they can control the US for decades to come.

[GainesT1958]

5. I know people who've threatened to do just that...but I WON'T...

I care too much for our people, and especially those who cannot afford to pack up and move to, say, Canada, at will. We've got to fight this moron even if he tries to beat us over the head with a "mandate" mantra...and we WILL win out ultimately.

HOWEVER...that's all hypothetical at this poinnt, right? We may just be surprised by a win the size of the one FDR had over Herbert Hoover in 1932. And we should get at least ONE house of Congress--most likely the Senate--back in our hands if that win at the top becomse reality. Right now, it's looking better and better for us, so don't despair our chances just yet!

:kick:

B-)

[Vogon_Glory]

6. I Don't Know About Emigration But..

I don't know if I'd emigrate quite yet, but I'm already thinking about setting up a foreign bank account and having my holdings converted from dollars to Euros.

[davhill]

7. It happens to every nation

Virtually every nation in the world has at one point in its history been ruled by a dictatorship. Maybe it is just our turn and we have to make the best of it until it is over.

[prolesunited]

40. WTF!

"Virtually every nation in the world has at one point in its history been ruled by a dictatorship. Maybe it is just our turn and we have to make the best of it until it is over."

Reread that statement. You make it sound as it is both inevitable and acceptable. You really think the American people would just roll over and accept this?

[Booberdawg]

8. Oh FUCK! I think I'll kill myself!

*sigh* Seriously, I won't leave MY country. (or this life, btw) I'll take a wag at this right now and suggest that since bush* does not enjoy the support he once did and mainstream murkins have now seen the light and the disasterous results and expense with Iraq, and the tax cuts, he is not going to have the support to do as much damage in a second term.

But, gawd, I never thought he could do this much damage in his FIRST TERM!! Let's just work to make sure he doesn't get another 4 years to do more damage.

[Chovexani]

9. I've got my escape route planned

A nice cozy place on Australia's Gold Coast, courtesy of pop-in-law. They're willing to harbor refugees. :)

[peabody71]

11. Election Fraud.

It's the only thing that can save him. It would start a civil war of sorts. I would hope we would not roll over for the bastard.

[Mass_Liberal]

13. I just got an EU passport

In case Bush&Co. go even further off of the edge than I can concieve them doing. London here I come!

[Clete]

14. If Bush is selected again,

has anyone thought of a general strike rather than emigrating? If working Americans had done that when the Supreme Court overstepped it's authority in 2000, we may not be where we are today. Of course back then we didn't know the Supreme Court and GOP would be using the Constitution to line their canary cages.

This of course takes some planning. Like you would need to be able to survive six months to a year without working at reduced or no income. Those with property would have to concentrate on growing food to distribute to the strikers. This could bring the economy to a standstill, which is something corporate America can't ignore.

[Enraged American]

15. A lot of unions are bought and unlike in France...

the unions are not party-affiliated.

[QERTY]

37. Keep dreaming!

I'm afraid America is composed of too many small-minded, greedy people for your plan to work. As I recall, there wasn't much open protest as the Supremes stole it the first time. It's too bad. We are suffering for their apathy.

[realFedUp]

17. Even now the numbers don't indicate a Bush win

If you want to start digging that hole to China,
feel free, but I'm for taking this country back.

[JVS]

19. It will be a disappointment, but not the end of the world

[trapper914]

20. Bush arrogance is working against him...

...but it will require people like you and me to educate those who won't educate themselves.

The Republicans will be out in force in 2004. Democrats and Independents should be enraged over what Bush has done to our nation's global reputation, to our constitution, to our environment, and to our economy. Should be, but if they don't show up at the polls...

Reversing voter apathy is the key to change in 2004. If you hear someone say they don't plan to vote, get in their grill and tell them what this administration has been up to since 2001. Let them know how a Republican controlled Congress uses the words "Homeland Security" to sneak through product liability shelters and off-short tax shelters for big donors. Let them know it will only get worse if Republicans continue to control the Executive and Legislative (and soon to be Judicial) branches.

[poskonig]

21. Begin organzing for 2006. Never surrender.

An eight year-long recession would suck pretty bad, though.

[hiphopnation]

22. Be Careful!

Please don't put the words "Bush" and "win" in the same sentenece. It could start a meme that would run up against the very storng meme here that he's not only beatable but that BUSH WILL BE GONE IN '04.

He will loose in '04 so your other questions are moot. If one feels compelled to leave the country while we of conscience are cleaning up the mess of this fascist regime then you don't deserve to come back when it's to your liking, IMHO.

[QERTY]

36. I won't hold it against you. . .

I'll advocate from Europe for your release from the American gulags. That is, of course, assuming that your country doesn't eventually turn its imperialist gaze toward Europe!
Methinks your confidence in the intellectual soundness of the electorate is belied by hard evidence. And what might become moot is the actual concept of "election" with the advent of Diebold machines.
I'll stay and fight for now, but at some point it may become clear that we've lost.

[Resistance Is Futile]

23. If Chimpy wins

If Chimpy wins, America either goes bankrupt or turns into a South American-style autocracy. There are no other possible outcomes.

[peterh]

24. If dubya wins, then I think it would be safe to assume…

Both houses will stay repug….Then the foundation will be set for the transition of this country into something beyond just the fear level. There won’t be any filibustering…it’ll be total capitulation. I feel the WH will have total control on judgeships on up to the Supreme. The overall change won’t hit you in the face at once, it’ll be done in a manner as to not to awake the sheeple until it’s too late.

The media is in place, the boogiemen are in place, one more huddle…the elections…and I think the yellow spine will once again appear on the elected Dems.

[Padraig18]

25. I will NOT leave!

I CHOSE to become a citizen of this Republic, and I will be DAMNED if I will surrender it to Bush and his Rethug cronies! I'm Irish, and it took over 400 years to regain our independence, so....

I'm not goin' ANYWHERE!

[redwitch]

26. It is not going to happen.

We can, we must, we will win. Failure is simply not an option.

[carpetbagger]

27. On to Damascus, 3 USSC appointments, trillion dollar defecits.

Think about that the next time someone goes "I can't support X if he or she wins the nomination".

[cosmosmom]

28. What if he declares Marshall Law?

right before election time. Then, no one can leave their house!

[Arkady]

29. Life goes on,,,

We look towards 2006 and 2008. The Republic will survive. Don't sweat it- this country has survived bad Presidents before.

[Enraged American]

30. How many times do I have to SAY this?!

Bush is not just another Repig. The current Republican Party is not the same as Bush Sr., Nixon, Ford, and others. There is a PNAC, imperialist CULT in the White House and the Pentagon! They themselves state that we're in a different world because of 9/11, and the govt should be able to violate constitutional rights because of that.

Bush isn't a bad president; he's something else. And he has a f---ing plan; you can bet on that. Don't be surprised if he captures Saddam or has another 9/11 shortly before the election.

[laura888]

31. I agree - things are different now

...this is a new breed that we've never seen before. I'm continually surprised that they're able to get away with their stuff - in America!

[Thoth]

33. Fascism is rising

We must tell our brainwashed Republican friends that the Republican party has been taken over
by its extreme reich-wing, who are fascist in all but name.

I'm afraid that if Bush gets a 2nd term, and there's another terrorist attack, that the freedom of dissent and
protest will itself be deemed "terrorism" - overt fascism here we come if that happens. I used to think people like
Alex Jones were way over the top with their conspiracy theories, but now I think they might be on to something.

That is why we can't let Bush take it in 04'.

[laura888]

32. revolution

I think I heard Ralph Nader say he was counting on it or some such. Complacency will be replaced by outrage only when things get really really bad.

[AmeriCanadian]

34. I would have to adapt

... I am but a small pion with one vote. That said, I still live in America. A country where a 1000 people on the "outside" would gladly trade for my spot here to get out of their oppressive, poor, uneducated, medical deficient counties to get the OPPORTUNITY to make it here. They would leave family behind to get here.

... I for one am not giving up and fleeing! I thought it was pathetic when Alec Baldwin claimed he'd leave, well guess what kids, he still lives in his $2.5M mansion in California , USA.

... Do you really think running away will solve your problems? Do you think Switzerland or New Zealand wants you? Hardly, not without a marketable commodity and proof of wealth. Everyone in the world has their own problems. Suck it up and take ownership for yours, sure as Hell, no one else is going to look out for yours or my needs.

[QERTY]

35. Assuming Diebold Machines Don't Render Popular Elections

...null and void, even the vast legions of dunderheaded know-nothings will have to become aware of Bush's complete failures eventually. Let's just hope they head our our way and not in some draconian, authoritarian direction.

[Q]

38. Bush* won't 'win'...

...although he might stay in office.

[gully]

39. I've checked out Canada and consider immigrating if Bush* steals another..

I'm not giving the Bush cartell any more of my tax $$.

I would sooner immigrate to a 'free' country (such as Canada) *and support them financially, then stay in this wasteland that was once America.

[AmeriCanadian]

41. ... And what country would that be?

... n/t

[gully]

42. Canada? Sweeeeeden? Norway?

Do you have some dirt on Canada? If so do tell... I've seriously considered immigration... ;)

I wonder if my original post was misunderstood. I love Canada, and want to go there fast..... but, I romanticize it I'm sure.

[JohnOneillsMemory]

43. Change my career to activism against the BFEE cabal. NO CHOICE.

Because if they continue to rape the planet, there won't be one left for my kids or theirs to live on. There is no escape to another country when the environment is destroyed and the petro-nazis solidify their control of all human activity. Those are the stakes and I'm ramping up to facing the full-time enactment of my values instead of just writing and talking.

[calimary]

44. Remember the photo of the ONE Chinese guy standing in front of the tank

I have that photo in my mind all the time now. Because I feel like that guy. I think there may be a bunch of "that guy" types who materialize. If things continue to go from bad to worse in the war AND the economy AND on the jobs front, and they still "win," I think people will start activating. 2004 is NOT like 2000. Too much has happened. We've seen too much and seen too much go down the tubes. There is FAR more suspicion in the air now than there was. Because, face it, before Selection 2000, who in their right mind, even HERE, would have even conceived of the possibility of an American election being STOLEN? Now, for many (although not enough at the moment) it is an absolute reality that we wake up and have to face every morning. I think the dynamics have changed. If there are exit polls and they show something different from what the vote count shows, I think more people will smell a rat. Then all hell will break loose.

I, for one, plan to stay in MY country and FIGHT FOR IT! Resistance is ESSENTIAL! I think you'll see protests in the streets of every major city in the country. And the media will be forced to cover it because of the magnitude of it. Consider how many in the media acted as if they'd just awakened from a stupor in mid February when those multi-million-strong world-wide peace rallies took place. They may have acted as though they just woke up, but they absolutely noticed.

[Breezy du Nord]

45. I actually have considered doing an exchanged program

maybe to Spain, once I learn some more Spanish.

[populistmom]

46. I'd be frightened as all hell

I'd suspect election fraud and possibly makes plans to emigrate. I'd suspect further involvement in wars abroad and a draft. I have 3 sons who are young now, but in ten years, my oldest will be 18. I'll leave before I'll let them become cannon fodder to a dictatorial government.