Three Possible Scenarios for Ohio Recount

[progressiveboston]

So I've been mulling over this just like many of you have been and I think that there are four possible outcomes of the Ohio recount, none of which include John Kerry being sworn in on 1/20 (as much as I would love it) Which one do you think will happen? (note I didn't say hope would happen)

1) Ohio recount finds no irregularities in the vote count. This could be due to the massive voter disenfranchisement, or the republicans covering their tracks. Bush installed again 1/20

2) Ohio Recount finds some vote irregularities in the vote count (but not enough to tip the scales) which throws into question results in other states due to the fact that NM and IA electoral votes would not be enough to tip scales and most the electors will have been chosen at that point for all states. During the opening of the electoral votes on 1/6, one Senator stands with the House and the results are thrown to the House which installs Bush anyway.

3) Ohio recount finds massive voting irregularities which tip scales to Kerry, Kerry unconcedes race and court battle begins. Two slates of electors are chosen for Ohio and the election is thrown to the House which installs Bush or SCOTUS installs Bush. Which throws country into chaos

4) Bush takes his fascism from the background to the foreground. Starts wearing a military uniform instead of the faux thing he wore the other day. And installs the fascist throcracy that he wants.

Edited for the last scenario :) Didn't copy it right. :)

[Pacifist Patriot]

1. I'm somewhat partial to this fourth scenario

4) Ohio recount finds massive voting irregularities and evidence of a fraud conspiracy which tip scales to Kerry. Kerry unconcedes race and criminal proceedings begin against the GOP and B/C 2004.

Hey, some mornings I'm an optimist.

[pbartch]

2. WHICH THOWS COUNTRY INTO CHAOS.......we all take to the states.....

there is civil war......and Martians invade the world and make us slaves to aliens from another planet.

No coffee this morning and I'm not making sense. Take away one of my DU posting points.

[StephanieMarie]

3. If there could be a smoking gun...

that left gunpowder on *'s hands,don't you think the fundies would abandon their fallen leader? I know I'm dreaming, but it's a nice fantasy.

[shoelace414]

6. well

don't you think the fundies would abandon their fallen leader?

they haven't yet.. so I'll say no.

[bones_7672]

4. "Root with your heart, bet with your head"

If I had to lay money down, I pick scenario #1.

[progressiveboston]

5. Unfortunately I agree

[righteous1]

9. I pick scenario # 2 without the Senate standing and it being

thrown into the house

[AnarchoFreeThinker]

7. 5) Arnbeck suit makes way to Ohio Supreme Court, which

voids Ohio results, and
a) orders revote
or
b) orders no further remedy, but leaves neither candidate with 270 electors, which throws it to Congress, which installs Bush
or
c) or it gets taken up by SCOTUS, short one Renquist, which splits 4-4 and lower court ruling stands, or SCOTUS with recess appointment made by Bush installs Bush
or...
or...
or...


(edited to show I do know what number comes after 4)

[progressiveboston]

10. Either way....

Any scenario other than 1 will leave the bastard an asterik next to his "presidency" and he'll go down in history as the worst president in history and another in a string of silent coup de'tat that have plagued our democracy over the last 228 years.

[bones_7672]

11. I don't think there is any way

that the Ohio Supreme Court will void the election unless there is untainted video of Blackwell personally burning ballots.

[Ms_Mary]

8. Feeling pessimistic today. I'll be surprised if vote reform comes of it.

[ahyums]

12. If the irregularities were massive enough to give Kerry a fairly

comfortable victory, i.e by high 5 or even 6 figures, Congress could be made to feel extremely uncomfortable about choosing the Bush slate of electors. If it somehow tips it to Kerry by something like 200 odd votes then there is a danger that Congressman will claim that the recount is not to be trusted etc. but a decisive win would be more difficult to dismiss.

In any scenario I think the popular vote margin causes a problem, clearly to those who approach the world with a certain amount of logic massive irregularities in Ohio, would be likely repeated in other states around the nation putting that margin into severe question, but without large scale recounts in other states ( which I don't think there will even be time for before 1/6) the argument will be made and most likely listened to, that because Bush won the PV choosing the Bush slate of electors is justified irrespective of the real results.

[demo dutch]

13. Besides Kerry being sworn in, I was hoping for option 2,

then everyone has a reason to be even more outraged at the Repubs politicians plus we'll be sure to get major National and International coverage! The world will be watching!

3 could similar in terms of coverage but, but can't see the country "going chaos". As Randi said "the American Public doesn't care as long as there's beer and stead on the grill"

[Junkdrawer]

14. I've been thinking along these lines for a while...

and the question comes down to:

Which is better: A Pseudo-Democracy or a Fascist Dictatorship?

And there really is a fairly big difference:

In a Pseudo-Democracy, daily life here is more comfortable for the upper class and the upper middle class, but the pain lasts much longer for everyone else here and abroad.

A Fascist Dictatorship would probably precipitate a civil war and invites either military or economic intervention from abroad.

What I will say is this: the democratic disguise that the Pseudo-Democracy hides behind grows more transparent daily.

[carolinalady]

15. I pick option #6

Ohio finds some irregularites (not enough to change the outcome) due to the Repubs covering their tracks and a delay due to the impending court battle of the software propriety of the ballot machines. Bush is inaugurated on 1/20. The Dems now start shooting their mouths off cause they think all is complete. Meanwhile, Diebold and company have already changed any relevant source codes to make their equipment look clean; and after we ultimately are unable to prove there was e-voting fraud, it is now close to the 2006 election. The Dems drop it cause they feel they have egg on their face and Diebold has promised to start retro fitting the machines with a paper trail but can not possibly have it done until 2008. And well, I think you get my drift........

[farmbo]

16. I like the Fifth Scenario...

5) An organized conspiracy to execute "vote flipping" from Kerry to Bush in five Southwest Ohio counties using computerized central tabulation machines is uncovered during the course of the recount. Faced with prison, two of the actual conspirators turn state's evidence and offer testimony tracing the conspiracy back to a shadowy group of Texans allied with Karl Rove. Although Bush is sworn in on January 20th, in a contentious 4-3 vote the Ohio Supreme Court orders the Nov 2nd results de-certified and schedules a statewide re-vote. The SCOTUS, acting on an expedited appeal, overrules the OSC and re-certifies the Ohio results, thereby re-installing Bush as president.

A wave of outrage sweeps the country and a Special Prosecutor is appointed to prosecute the vote rigging. The investigation expands to include the Georgia elections in 2002 and Florida in 2000. Bush, who is now presiding over an economic recession brought on by historically high budget and trade deficits, becomes increasingly bogged down with the swirling investigation. Cheney is implicated and is forced to resign. Sen John McCain is confirmed as Vice President. After a multi-count indictment of Karl Rove, George W Bush, 43rd President of the United States, becomes the second President to resign while in office. McCain issues a full pardon of Bush but refuses to pardon Rove and other co-conspirators. Bush's appointments to the SCOTUS are blocked by a coalition of Democratic and moderate Republican senators and are withdrawn in favor of appointees who favor strong, transparent voting rights.


The Voting Rights Act of 2006 is passed by the congress outlawing DRE voting machines without a verified paper receipt,requiring open source software for DREs, and providing funding for the purchase by states of sufficient voting machines to deploy one machine for each 200 voters throughout the country,irrespective of racial or economic status.

[progressiveboston]

18. I like that one too!

Very well thought out and one that one could hope for. I really believe in my gut that eventually the truth will come out but the Neo-con death cult has a grip on the media propaganda machine and it will be swept under the rug. One can only hope for the scandals to come raining in, though with a republican dominated House that has already shown it can turn a blind eye to corruption (IE. DeLay) They will never bring Articles for Impeachment for Bush.

It's Mourning in America folks... One can only hope we come to a time when the American public starts to care. I'd start stocking up on steaks and beer though.

[Mist]

17. Can't guess how it will go but

I have a feeling that if SCOTUS becomes involved they will do anything to throw it back to a lower court or to the house. I think some of them actually have qualms over what they did in 2000.