The Election That Might Not Happen
It’s springtime in American politics. It’s only early March, but there’s a giddy, hopeful feeling to this election season, a sense that new leadership is blossoming. We could have a Democrat in the White House next year. But winter isn’t over yet and we need to balance our hope with a little fear. In 2000 Bush and Cheney stole the election in Florida. In 2004 they played dirty tricks in Ohio. In 2008 could they go one step further — and suspend the election altogether?
The necessary architecture may already be in place. On May 4 last year, the White House issued the National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive, key parts of which remain classified and hence shrouded from public view. The directive outlines procedures to respond to a “catastrophic emergency,” defined broadly as “any incident, regardless of location, that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the U.S. population, infrastructure, environment, economy, or government functions.” Of course previous administrations also had emergency plans. But the Bush directive transfers power from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the White House, where the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism is assigned the job of “National Continuity Coordinator”.
The unclassified part of the directive reveals little about who would have the authority to invoke emergency powers during a catastrophe. Nor does it refer to existing laws, such as the National Emergencies Act, that establish congressional checks on the executive’s power to impose martial law or other extraordinary measures. Its wording is ambiguous - the directive shall be implemented “consistent with applicable law,” without making clear which laws are “applicable”. “The Bush legal team has pushed a controversial theory that the Constitution gives the president an unwritten power to disobey laws at his own discretion to protect national security,” writes Charlie Savage in the Boston Globe. He quotes legal specialists who describe the vagueness of the new directive as “troubling”.
Also troubling is the Department of Homeland Security’s $385 million contract awarded to Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg, Brown and Root in January 2006 to build temporary detention facilities. According to a Halliburton press release, the contract provides for augmenting existing immigration detention facilities in the event of “an emergency influx of immigrants into the U.S., or to support the rapid development of new programs.” It also includes the development of a plan “to react to a national emergency, such as a national disaster.” Construction would commence only after an “emergency” is declared. While immigrants appear to be the main target, one cannot rule out the possibility that the detention centers could be used as holding pens for dissidents during a proclaimed emergency. Recent crackdowns on illegal immigrants have included military-style night raids on homes and factories. Are we getting softened up for the expansion of police state tactics?
But perhaps the most important card the Bush administration holds in its deck is a stacked conservative majority on the Supreme Court. In 2000 the Court turned a blind eye to the theft of Al Gore’s electoral victory in Florida. Should we expect better today? Just last month the Court refused to review the ACLU’s legal challenge to the Bush administration’s warrantless electronic surveillance program. Can we depend on the Court to challenge emergency rule and a suspension of elections?
Even with this architecture in place, the Bush administration would need a trigger to declare a state of emergency. One can imagine several possible scenarios:
War with Iran - unfortunately, not so far-fetched. The National Intelligence Estimate released in December concluded that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program back in 2003. But when have Bush and Cheney ever based their foreign policy decisions on evidence? Moreover, the most important reason they want to attack Iran is to control the flow of oil through the Persian Gulf, nukes or no nukes.
The assassination of a presidential candidate. Obama evokes memories of JFK and Martin Luther King. The bullet could come from a lone racist, a terrorist, or an agent of a state. The threat is real. The Secret Service knows it and so should we.
A terrorist strike, on the scale of 9/11 or worse. Again, not so far-fetched. Bush and Cheney have been Osama bin Laden’s greatest recruiters, making the U.S. appear to be the enemy of millions across the world. Al Qaeda may consider that regime change in the U.S. is not in their interest.
With the right spin, any of these events might be construed as a “catastrophic emergency.”
These worst-case scenarios probably will not come to pass. We’ll probably all be able to sleep peacefully in our beds in the early hours of November 5, after watching the election results on TV. The value of worst-case scenarios lies not in their accurate prediction of events, but rather in what they tell us about the risks we face. We shouldn’t let hope make us naïve. We need to be alert, our vision razor-sharp. The price of liberty is eternal vigilance. It could be the price of elections, too. Let’s not count our spring flowers before they bloom.
Betsy Hartmann’s latest book is the political thriller Deadly Election. A longstanding activist in the international women’s health movement, she lives in Amherst, MA where she teaches and directs the Population and Development Program at Hampshire College. Her other books include Reproductive Rights and Wrongs and the novel The Truth About Fire about neo-Nazis in the American heartland. See www.BetsyHartmann.com.
As we have heard today, someone set off a “toy” bomb in front of a recruitment center in NY, thus ratcheting up the FEAR.
There is a good chance that with some more “terrorist” incidents that the election will be canceled and the shadow government will kick in with Darth Cheney and Shrub heading to bunkers(or warm tropical islands) to run this country into the ground, watch on tv and chuckle. They didn’t set up things the wy hey did to sit back and watch Obama or Hillery take over.
Food stocks(grains etc.)which used to be a year or two’s worth are said to be only 2 months now. Better stock up and get some ammo while your at it(Dear of course LOL!)
I still think the election would go ahead, terrorism would be used as a threat to lower the already low turnout of the electorate. Which would favour the diebolding of the results and a Mccan torturous presidency.
What we have in America now is leaders that are Benedict Arnolds and guilty of the highest treason to the country we all love, so I agree, we need to be especially vigilant and nothing would surprise me.I look for a false flag terror attack on America, but I sure hope like hell that I am wrong but like Betsy says:” we shouldn’t let hope make us naive.
the seeds for this scenario were certainly planted. But I don’t think its necessary to acomplish their goals. Since they control the elections and the outcomes why would it be? Everything can go on with normal appearances. Really doesnt matter what body is in the Whitehouse, didnt matter when Ike was in Reagan, or GWB. You really don’t think the brain damaged Bush has really performed any form of public service do you? You can’t convince me that a man that cannot string enough comprehensive words together in order to communicate a dinner order is actually in charge of anything. Anyway I digress, point being I don’t think they meed to suspend the elections.
If the administration cannot produce evidence of a definate terrorist attack in the planning, and there is an attack, it means the various security agencies are asleep or purposely looking the other way.
Everybody needs to read this link. This sounds exactly like today. So guess where we’re headed. Coolidge actually placed a lot of this in action. Hoover was blamed for the Great Depression because he was in office even though most of the economic problems was created by Coolidge. It destroyed the Republican party for 20-30 years. The next President will be blamed the next economic crash which will happen during this next term. The American people have short-term memories, so they WILL be blame the next President whoever that may be — and the party in power will be blamed.
http://www.gusmorino.com/pag3/greatdepression/
Guarded optimism is a good thing. Hope for the best, be prepared for the worst. It’s no stretch for me to conceive of an imposition of marshall law precluding an election, but would we, the people, really stand for it? I don’t think so, and I also think the neo-cons know this, and so the notion of suspended elections is highly unlikely. At the same time, it would be irresponsible to dismiss it as impossible, and so it does make sense to at least discuss it. Be prepared.
My sentiments almost exactly.
The pool is still open on when Bush will declare martial law under directive #51.
I hate to be alarmist, but the little bomb at the Times Square recruiting center tells me that the stage is being set and I see the possibility of more small scale things like this happening. As far as an assassination goes, why wouldn’t they? It’s not like it would be beyond their capabilities.
I’ve considered this scenario a strong possibility for years. Can anyone conceive of Cheney just letting go? Maybe, as the article postulates, McCain is malleable enough for Cheney, and his “election” would be allowed.
One major gripe - the supreme court did not “turn a blind eye” to the theft of the 2000 election. They took their blindfolds off and participated in it. For a body that is stacked with “State’s Righters” and virtually never finds in favor of the Federal Gov’t vs a State Gov’t to overrule Florida’s full recount law and then dictate that their tortured ruling was a “one-time-only” deal, NOT to be used for precedents, is beyond suspicious. With Alito and Roberts added to that already criminal gang they are as anti-American a body as the US faces in the world today.
Cheney and his puppet Bush, and Scalia and his puppet Thomas, are the most dangerous people this country has ever faced. They are enemies of the state.
I think the 11 March 2004 Madrid bombing, three days before the Spanish general election, is what we need to be looking at.
Remember: Bush’s ally (and business partner/friend to Miami Cuban Right-winger Jorge Mas Santos)Jose Maria Aznar was quick to blame the bombings on the ETA (Basque separatists) before there was any investigation. And the US introduced a resolution condeming the ETA in the UN Security Council immediately thereafter. Anti-ETA sentiment would certainly have swayed the electorate to the right, guaranteeing Aznar another term.
Socialist Zapatero won the election not because the Spanish are so inclined to socialism (the civil war divide still runs deep in that country), but because the electorate was outraged at being lied to once the real perpetrators became known.
We all ought to be rereading Margaret Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale … the set-up to the theocracy was Muslims shooting up congress. “Or at least, we were told they were Muslims …”
The election will happen. Bushie is tired.
Seriously, what does “be prepared” mean in this case?
The only thing I can think of is to publicize the details of the danger of a fake crisis and martial law so people will not be so easily stampeded. Then population may be activated to pressure the few remaining vertebrate politicians, boycott goods, stop paying rent, taxes, cable and phone bills en masse, call general strikes and do other things that will cut into the corporate profits and isolate the fascists from the ordinary exploiters.
More people than ever are paying attention to this election. We have to talk with those new voters about the danger of elections being called off. Also, get them to replace some of the octagenarians who currently inspect polls to cut down on fraud.
Good article on the Great Depression atruepatriot - thanks for the link. So many parallels to today.
I did not know the supreme court of 1923 ruled a minimum wage unconstitutional; it was not until 1938 and Roosevelt’s 2nd term that we got a MW - 25 cents an hour for those worker who qualified.
I hate to say it, but I’ve been saying this for months in these posts. And now that McCain has reached the finish line and isn’t waiting to choose his VP because “we have a big fight ahead of us and we’ll need all the help we can get” (or similar words), so the scene will be set for the two to be crowned. I’ve also been saying that the puppet doesn’t want to stay - he’d rather be cutting brush and chuggin.’ So he’ll just appoint them, as is his imperial right. Who’s going to stop any of it?
As an observer of the present administration (as all of the rest of you are) I’ve been warning friends and family about this possibilty for a long time. One point to ponder regarding the implementation of martial law and the supreme court; Even if the Supreme Court back handed the administration with a judgement of unconsitutional it would not make any difference. This Mafiosi cabal has disregarded any law and does whatever it wants to. And; it also has a huge private army (Blackwater et al) to back them up.
Golddogs is right. Stock up now. Oh by the way, ammo costs are on the rise.
Congress can stop the evil-doers in their tracks by upholding the United States Constitution and taking immediate steps to impeach those in power who have committed crimes against American citizens, and humanity in general. It is the only way to begin to restore order, real security, and confidence of citizens and those around the world.
Politics is not controlled by “Republicans.” Both parties serve elite interests — almost exclusively. There are some issues on which elites have divided opinion, but they are unanimous in their recognition that ostentatiously continuing the “Big Show” of elections is among their highest priorities. They don’t hold elections for our sake; they do it for THEIR sake.
They know it’s crucial for them to keep the US population under the illusion that what we have here is a “democracy.” It keeps the public docile & pacified. Elites understand perfectly that at all costs, the Big Show must go on; that staging these quadrennial spectacles is one of their most powerful tools for keeping the public duped, brainwashed, confused, complacent, & politically paralyzed.
Therefore, one may be certain that elites would not permit the elections to be called off unless unprecedented circumstances made it absolutely necessary (in which case, they’d do it in a twinkling of an eye, without compunction). Martial law & abandoning the Constitutional order might be required to defeat a determined & broad public uprising against elites — ie, something that seriously threatened the social order. It would NOT be undertaken merely to defeat some lousy Democrat — who elites know perfectly well is going to be THEIR boy (or girl), not ours.
As long as elites can keep the public contained inside the 2-party system, they know they are in control of things. It’s only when social discontent threatens to move outside of that framework, that elites might depart from the usual staged rituals of pseudo-democracy.
Fear is the mind killer. Plant your garden, store your food, have the extra. But don’t let stuff like this eat away at you. People have been talking about this and bombing Iran for 3+ years. It does get people foaming at the mouth! FEAR is the MIND KILLER!
I have heard this scenario before. It would be one sure way to ignite a revolution from the right and left. The Republican party would be finished forever. If this lunatic is this far gone, it will just be another nail in his coffin and completely destroy his political party once and for all.
The idea came to me a few weeks ago that McCain might “decide” to keep Cheney on as his VP. I posted this idea somewhere, asking if the VP is limited to terms as the president is, but then so what if he is. In the context of what we’ve seen for seven years, that little matter can be stomped on too.
We mustn’t forget those Blackwater mercenaries who aren’t answerable to anyone as well. They’ll for sure be called in to “keep order” when the time comes.
I DO HAVE HOPE! If I didn’t have that to keep me reminding myself that I’m probably just “catastrophizing,” as my daughter used to call my wild imagining, again, I’d probably take a flying leap off a cliff somewhere.
“Food stocks(grains etc.)which used to be a year or two’s worth are said to be only 2 months now. ”
Is this really true?
I’ll be impressed with these election predictions when someone backs it up with a substantial sum.
“President” McKeating will be installed on schedule.
And he’ll be a place-holder, just like the current guy.
Suspension of elections is a little drastic … the sheep might notice.
None of what’s happened happened without the dems consent, including the election in 2000.
Its clearly the repubs job to whip this nation into a pitiful mass of helpless citizens while they all rip the entire nation off.
An election doesn’t matter anyway. Its all about the money and power.
The Democrats are complicit in the appointments of Roberts and Alito. They pretended to believe the lies of the candidates that they were moderate. Nothing in their histories would indicate that. They could have stopped those appointments, and I can’t figure out why they chose not to, unless, as some have suggested, that Bush has been spying on Congress from the beginning and had enough dirt on them to keep them in line. In which case we have a dictatorship with only one branch of government. The unitary executive.
I have reflected on the behavior of Pelosi and Reid, and it seems to me that when nothing makes any sense until you consider blackmail and then everything falls into place, we need to take a hard look at that. I considered them to being beholden to corporate interests, but their collapse at Bush’s feet is far too extensive to be covered by that.
I would say our country is in serious danger from within and it starts at the top. This theft was planned from the beginning and there was no way to stop it. Nader made no difference in 2000, and even if he had gotten twice the vote he did, it would have made no difference. I knew it was over when I saw the returns calling it for Gore, and the camera showed the Bush family sitting together with smug smiles on their faces, totally unperturbed. I knew they had something up their sleeve, but at that time, I didn’t know what. “What” turned out to be Jeb Bush and Katherine Harris who were not going to let Gore win Florida under any circumstances. Anyone remember James Baker and the Republican congressional staffer “goons” flying to Florida and rampaging the Florida elections offices, stopping the recount? And where were the police, who are supposed to restore order? Not there. The whole country just sat and watched like nothing out of the ordinary was happening. What if it had been a bunch of “hippies”? The country would have been screaming its head off demanding action.
kathyodat
wilmoor, McCain can’t afford to have Cheney as veep. Two old goats about to croak?
kathyodat
Betsy, a very fine and long-overdue-on-commondreams article. Thank you for putting it together and spelling out the real reality behind the make-believe democracy that accomplishes the Insiders agenda at the Outsiders expense.
I only have one objection. When you talk about Bin Laden and Al Qaeda you sound like you actually believe that myth too. Oh, please. The same people who stole the White House twice also told us within three hours of 9/11 and with no forensic evidence at all — not even an investigation — that they knew exactly who did it, why they did it, and what was to be done about it: an endless “war on terror.”
Let’s get it straight. We are living in The MATRIX and we need to break out. Go to www.sillyConValley.net to find out how Her Highness Technology has placed us all in Her sights.
There are any number of issues that could be made to flare up as an “October surprise.” I don’t suppose the anti-war movement is making any contingency plans for this?
This article is paranoid humbug. The coupe has already happened. It took thirty years, and was started by Reagan. Bush finished it in 2000 with the help of the US Supreme Court.
Ironically, the only group I know who has successfully stood up for “rights” is the NRA (National Rifle Association).
You may argue about the “rights” they have stood up for, but their methods have proved to be very effective. To bad that the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) has not employed the same effective tactics to preserve our other rights.
There is an important distinction between stealing an election (or two) or staging a domestic false flag terror operation to galvanize public opinion on one hand, and cancelling an election on the other. Elections (or the appearance of free elections) confer legitimacy on our “democratically-elected” leaders and the political class generally. Cancelling an election (as opposed to postponing on pretext of an emergency) would undermine the leaders’ own standing and power. Power is what they’re after. They are just going to hold their nose and back McKeating.
RichM: Excellent post. I agree that since both parties are bought and paid for, the whole election process is a fascade to keep the masses dumbed down. The analogy I would use, is a horse race where all the horses are owned by the corporatocracy. Unless the corporatocracy is threatened they do not need a false flag, which even though it is an oxymoron, is good news.
I keep hearing this and I keep thinking its total bull.
The people who really run this country could care less whether its a George Bush puppet or a Hillary puppet or an Obama puppet in the White House. All are their willing servants, none of these are any threat to the existing power structures.
Now, if were talking a Ron Paul or Dennis Kucinich campaign for President that was threatening to win. Or if something like a Cynthia McKinney Green Party campaign was threatening to win, then you might see this.
And remember, canceling the election runs the real risk of waking up the American sheeple to the fact that they don’t live in a free democracy any more.
So, this election is well under control for the power that be. They are very, very happy. Look at the Wall St money and other big corporate money that’s flowing into the Obama campaign. They are all happy campers right now. So there’s not a chance that they’ll risk waking up a sleeping American citizenry just to keep a cowboy puppet in the White House.
Besides, just look at Bush. His face just screams that he’s tired of this job. He’s about the last person that would want this to continue past Jan 20. He’s never had a job in his life that’s made him work, so he just wants to quit and go home.
some time this month the new york subway system is going to start having daily “antiterror” patrols- heavily armed special police with bomb sniffing dogs patroling the subways. and “heavily armed” means submachine guns. they will travel in units of six,(or more if you count the dogs) one dog handler, one sergeant and four special unit police officers in kevlar helmets, heavy bullet proof vests, and carrying the submachine guns… combine this with the “violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism prevention act” and everything that everyone else is writing here - it doesnt look good.
It might be paranoid…but if the false-flag suitcase nuke gets detonated between now and the election, and Directive #51 declares Cheney dictator for eternity, don’t say nobody warned you.
MisoPretty: “”As far as an assassination goes, why wouldn’t they? It’s not like it would be beyond their capabilities.”
Let’s not forget Paul Wellstone.
Don’t fall into the “framing” of fear. Everytime the Republicans try to scare the wallets out of us, just acknowledge their fears, put them in perspective, then talk about a peaceful strategy for victory.
You people don’t get it…they want the mass of people on this planet DEAD.
No more competition for the putting greens, tee times, Big Game fishing spots, roadways, gas, oil, Beluga Caviar, etc.
They want you DEAD.
I have long been anxious about the detainment centers. I called Senator Susan Collins two years ago(R-Maine)office and asked about them. Some twentysomething told me it was all about immigration, but not really real, or something like that. I do believe the elites want the Big Show, Kabuki Theatre to go on. I got pulled in with Obama, the longing for change after seven horrible years. What concerns me the most is the bone-chilling spectacle on 60 Minutes last sunday. It was an Infomercial for the “Ray Gun”. It frightened the shit out of me! It’s capable of cooking people from the inside out with a microwave friggin machine and it can be a mile away to do it. They say there is no permanet damage, just a lot of pain which causes people to flee. People can be herded like cattle. Uh….so there goes peaceful dissent, folks. Are they planning on rolling it out during the conventions for a test run, get it ready for martial law? I also, though, agree with turnoffthetv that I need to do just that because it really does ratchet me up. More than anything I want to take my young adult daughter out of the country in late August, get my financials accessible out of America (like the rich folk do - I live on $14,000 a year)and be away from what I fear coming. But, also, I believe the words written by another poster above that the elite will manage this all without martial law, just to keep the country’s serfs calm. And that’s much worse. Bye Bye American Freedom, it was good to know ya. We haven’t been free for many years, and that’s such a shock when that realization sinks in. It’s very hard to be young right now, I think.
“While immigrants appear to be the main target, one cannot rule out the possibility that the detention centers could be used as holding pens for dissidents during a proclaimed emergency. Recent crackdowns on illegal immigrants have included military-style night raids on homes and factories. Are we getting softened up for the expansion of police state tactics?”
Yes
Hmm, let’s see…
Stole three elections, deliberately ignored scores of pre-911 warnings and intel in hopes of ushering in the arrival of the publicly wished-for “new Pearl Harbor,” lied to New Yorkers about health hazards, illegally invaded two countries killing and maiming and poisoning millions, outted a CIA NOC agent destroying 20 years worth of anti-nuke proliferation work, renditions, torture, stole trillions worth of present and future US wealth, illegally rigged the Justice Department against all who aren’t “with them,” abandoned New Orleans, put hundreds of thousands of private soldiers on the Fed payroll, and have declared themselves immune from all known laws in the universe.
Anyone who thinks that something as easy as blowin’ a few things up here and there in order to create a “state of emergency” would be a stretch for this ruthless gang doesn’t remember White House staffers starting a Cipro regime before the still-on-the-loose “Anthrax Killer” just happened to score a few wins at such a coincidental moment in history.
Like the Loonitary Decider said this week re: his illegal occupation of the Oval Office:
“It’s been a fantastic time.”
Maybe The Bush Empire has something up their sleeve who knows. All I know is if the country finally stops the fear mongering and steps up to the plate and votes Democratic we will have our country back. There is a significant difference and a lot at stake. If the entire nation votes Democratic the Republicans can’t swing the election, even Karl Rove knows this.
magikpowerwoman: “It’s very hard to be young right now, I think.”
I think you’re making a big assumption about the young in this country. You’re assuming that the young know and care about the things you know and care about.
The elite have been slowly taking control of the education system in this country, much like they’ve taken control of everything else - politics, media, religion, agriculture, the military … you name it.
Thanks to these elites, the young are blissfully ignorant and happy to be controlled. Being controlled is only hard when you don’t want it.
Sadly, too few of the young want to take control of their own lives. Most of them have bought into the subliminal message, “Resistance is futile.”
COMarc March 6th, 2008 1:52 pm
“Besides, just look at Bush. His face just screams that he’s tired of this job. He’s about the last person that would want this to continue past Jan 20. He’s never had a job in his life that’s made him work, so he just wants to quit and go home.”
I don’t think Bush is tired of the job. I think he’s scared. He knows he is responsible for yet another failure in a long list of failures and wants out of town before the sh#t hits the fan.
Lobo Gris
Thanks “iowairish” for remembering Paul Wellstone, whose strange death in an extremely unlikely airplane crash has never been properly investigated.
The mainstream media have made “conspiracy theory” into a kind of swear word. “Put on your tin foil hats and investigate whatever.” So let’s just assume that Bush/Cheney wouldn’t conspire about anything.
There’s a good discussion of Wellstone’s plane and pilots, and the weather at the time of the crash here.
At the time of the crash, Wellstone had just pulled ahead of Coleman in the polls, and IMHO he would have filibustered every attack on the Constitution that the ass-hole Republicans tried to carry out during the next six years, if he had lived.
Why would our petro/military industrial masters bother to formally declare a coup d’etat? They already have dictatorial executive power (habeus corpus and posse comitatus have been trashed and universal eavesdropping is assumed), a rubber-stamp laegislature that would be the envy of any other fascist regime, a totally submissive and self-censoring press and an essentially hypnotized (lumpen?) proletariat. Why would they need to prick that bubble of fantasy, our national consensus that we are the most perfect embodiment of democracy in the world? What is the need to underline what already exists?
Personally, I think that those who call the shots are pretty hot for the election. If they can only maintain the illusion that the economy is just in a bit of a rough patch for another year or so…
I saw this quote on the DailyReckoning today, and would like to drop it in as an illustration..
“The credit collapse recession is grabbing all the headlines now, but in six years, when Barack Obama appears on TV wearing a sweater, with a new batch of government solutions to the $600/barrel oil price, will we even care?”
I do believe that those who call the shots would like to see Bush swagger into the sunset before they pull back the curtain to reveal the smouldering crater that is the current economic mess. Certainly, they’d like to blame the very messy bits on the Democrats. And lookee lookee, what have we here, it was a female or a coloured man that caused all that suffering.
Support Ron Paul so that people will have a chance to see some candid photos of that smouldering crater before it can be blamed on someone else.
I sure hope we don’t have “Failure-To-Connect-The-Dots II.”
The Adams White House was burned down by the British. Did we suspend elections then?
Golddogs is right. They either want to milk us or slaughter us. Take a hard look at the Bilderberg group. Chaney wants to establish not just the present corporate fascist state–that’s just a means to an end. They want a politocracy. Like a dictatorship, but more savvy, sinister, and subtle.
heres another Wellstone crash discussion.
http://www.apk2000.dk/netavisen/artikler/global_debat/2002-na1103-ftw_wellstone_crash_eng.htm
interestingly it also mentions:
“From a historical standpoint Democrats are twice as likely to die in air crashes as Republicans. Frequently, those who have died were known to have been either involved in the investigation of covert operations or to have taken highly controversial positions in opposition to vested government interests.” [references given]
THANK YOU, Betsy Hartmann for a great piece addressing what I’ve been too afraid to say out loud!
From Golddogs “They didn’t set up things the wy hey did to sit back and watch Obama or Hillery take over.”
EXACTLY.
And they didn’t build all those detention centers and pass those hideous directives in the middle of the night for nothing. We are dealing with a violent and criminal and SICK mentality. These people are in ‘lust’ with violence and destruction. Yes, I believe they do want to severely decrease the population to realize their ‘dream’ (nightmare for everyone else).
I can’t help it. With every month that goes by, I feel we are getting closer and closer to their sick ’surpise’.
They killed 3,000 of their own citizens on 9/11 just for all this. They don’t blink at other people’s deaths. They aren’t going to walk away and go anywhere until they FINISH.
I have to believe, though, in the force of Good. And I believe it to be more powerful than the force of evil. Whatever happens, I plan on resisting with peaceful non-cooperation. You can’t think about what will happen to you, you just have to do it.
As Gandhi said, “Non-cooperation is an attempt to awaken the masses to a sense of dignity and power…”
“While immigrants appear to be the main target, one cannot rule out the possibility that the detention centers could be used as holding pens for dissidents during a proclaimed emergency. Recent crackdowns on illegal immigrants have included military-style night raids on homes and factories. Are we getting softened up for the expansion of police state tactics?”
Let’s assume no [citizen] “dissidents” get the detention center treatment. Is it okay that illegal[ized] immigrant dissidents get that treatment?
Let us assume “we” are not getting softened up for the expansion of the police state. Is it okay that illegalized immigrants are already past being softened up for that treatment?
The struggle for human dignity and rights can hardly be successful if it continues to accept constraints imposed by a “them” versus “us” framework.
An excellent work on related matters: Aviva Chomsky, “They Take Our Jobs!” And 20 Other Myths About Immigration.
Navdeep Sidhu
Saskatoon, Canada
“And they didn’t build all those detention centers ”
What’s your very best evidence about detention centers existing?
“They killed 3,000 of their own citizens on 9/11 just for all this.”
What’s your very best evidence about this that hasn’tr already been debunked? Please don’t just repeat something and ignore the debunking argument.
kathyodat-A democrat will not nominate an Alito, Thomas, etc. Democrats may not be good fighters, but they will not nominate complete corporate assholes.
COMarc is right about baby Bush being tired of his current job as President. That’s why he’s taken more days of vacation than any other president.
Martial Law is only plan B…DIEBOLD will decide the election
What if Bush is assasinated? What if he dies in a terrorist strike?
The consequences would likely be Cheney being president, martial law, suspended elections, suspended Congress, Blackwater providing “domestic security”, Haliburton detention centers filled with “terrorists and terrorist sympathizers”, and the faithful media falling over each other exclaiming that Bush was the greatest American ever, he was right about everything, and we will get the terrorists even if we have to go “house to house.”
Plus nuclear war with Iran, of course.
God, I hope I’m wrong!
“The Election That Might Not Happen” should have been titled “The Commentary That Is Entirely Conjecture”, being composed almost entirely of overstatement combined with scare mongering.
A clue to the meaning here is that nearly every paragraph in the article starts with a hypothetical expression. Another clue is that the author of this is currently marketing the novel “Deadly Election”:
see the review at: http://www.betsyhartmann.com/novels/deadly_election.htm:
“Betsy Hartmann has taken our darkest fears of the Bush administration and carried them one terrifying step further: she’s written a highly plausible thriller about a government conspiracy to postpone the 2008 elections. An electrifying novel that’s not be missed!
- Michael Klare, author of Blood and Oil”
Those interested in a work of fiction along these lines might get the book either locally or through Amazon and other online booksellers. Otherwise, there’s the world of facts - a little less exciting, but then also a little less scary.
Hey Kids…
This is old SHIT by now - the author uses the same scare tactics and fear mongering she accuses the Furher’s admin. of.
Bush/Cheney are GONE, BABY GONE!!!
Neither POS has the stomach for more of the same - their job is done. The foundation for the Fascist Empire is laid and has already firmed up nicely. Now the “Soft Wing” of the Reich is due to take over and read fairytales to the public until they are sweetly back to their sonambulistic state.
Doesn’t really matter who reads the bedtime story.
” Another clue is that the author of this is currently marketing the novel “Deadly Election”:”
Thanks for pointing that out. There is no monopoly with so called fear mongering.
If your belief is that this world is only a step-stone to the Christian afterlife, everything is going just fine.
If your belief is that this world is only a step-stone to the Muslim afterlife, everything is just fine.
But if your experience is that this world is what we make it and there is no afterlife other than this wonderful life, formless without time, everything would change.
There is no need to fear someone else’s terrified belief in the meaninglessness of this life in this world within this existence.
If each one of us is willing to see one’s own truth — what is light here and what is love here will be enough for each one of us.
The fearful — whether in power, or the powerless — have not been cared for well enough…yet.
Begin now?
Sure.
Why not?
Yes, I think martial law is a possibility, but what if Bush Co just set up everything for failure so when a Democrat takes office, the sh*%t will hit the fan. In the next election cycle, the Republicans are almost guaranteed the nod. It doesn’t help too that Obama is talking about hope and change, because most likely, due to the situations we have today, not much will change in four years. For example, we are about to fall into a full-on recession, but most likely this will not happen until after Bush leaves. Also, in Iraq, the new “surge” is basically supplying both the Shiites and the Sunnis with weapons, so if we were to leave, they would break out in a full on civil war (read the story about the surge in this edition of Rolling Stones). But of course, when Obama or Clinton starts pulling out, and things only get worse in Iraq (because of the way BushCo set it up), but the dumbass american public will just blame the Dem president. And the corporations are okay with this, because they know they can control Obama/Clinton for four years. So either we could have this dramatic martial law scenario, or the neocons could just let it play out and just looked towards 2012 to finish their goals. What those goals are, I don’t even want to think about…
Everytime I read how frightened American’s are of not having an election, or trusting the electoral process to have a just outcome. I think to myself…what a bunch of f****** P*****…. You either have democracy or you don’t. You either fight for you rights or give them up. Either way it is going to cost you.
Twalsh…
Don’t look now - BUT, the SHIT has already hit the fan.
What subterranean community do you live in ???
It can’t happen here. Oops–it is happening here. Be afraid! Be very afraid!
twalsh1: “What those [2012] goals are, I don’t even want to think about…”
How about a Jeb Bush - as smart, volatile, imbalanced, aggessive, evil, destructive, ambitious, and mentally unstable as rove, cheney, rice, and rumsfeld combined - leading the country?
RE: QRDeNameland March 6th, 2008 2:01 pm
It might be paranoid…but if the false-flag suitcase nuke gets detonated between now and the election, and Directive #51 declares Cheney dictator for eternity, don’t say nobody warned you.
I really wouldn’t put it past them.
megaronin March 6th, 2008 2:20 pm
Maybe The Bush Empire has something up their sleeve who knows. All I know is if the country finally stops the fear mongering and steps up to the plate and votes Democratic we will have our country back.
Do you REALLY believe that??? You haven’t ‘had’ your country in a lot of years, way before GWB. Democrats are no better than the republicans. Once you realize that, you can accept the gravity of the problem at hand.
Greg R March 6th, 2008 3:38 pm
kathyodat-A democrat will not nominate an Alito, Thomas, etc. Democrats may not be good fighters, but they will not nominate complete corporate assholes.
That’s not true. The Democrats will just nominate a different set of corporate assholes than the republicans will. But really, it’s all the same thing, with just a few very minor differences.
chiefrider March 6th, 2008 4:03 pm
What if Bush is assasinated? What if he dies in a terrorist strike?
The consequences would likely be Cheney being president, martial law, suspended elections, suspended Congress, Blackwater providing “domestic security”, Haliburton detention centers filled with “terrorists and terrorist sympathizers”, and the faithful media falling over each other exclaiming that Bush was the greatest American ever, he was right about everything, and we will get the terrorists even if we have to go “house to house.”
THAT is a very real possiblity. It’s not Bush that wants to stay in power… In fact, I doubt that he wants to at all. The fun of swaggering around playing president is wearing off and you can see the strain on his face. The one that wants to keep power is Cheney. He’s worked his whole life for this and isn’t about to be thwarted by some black man or a woman. Having Bush killed would be the perfect trigger for the “state of emergency” they need.
But I agree with those that stated that it doesn’t really matter to the powers that be if a democrat wins the election. It’ll still be business as usual in the ‘war of terror’. The public coffers will still be pillaged by the corporate raiders and Israel will still get everything it wants.
I just don’t see a coup happening. Not now. George’s best chance was somewhere between November 2002 and November 2004. Not even Republicans would support a Bush dictatorship now. I doubt the generals love him enough to save him from the mob. On the other hand, he has successfully established the architecture for someone else’s successful dictatorship. Let’s stop waiting. Act now. Vote Putin for President in 2012!
They have invested 3 trillion dollars & 8 years building a city over there…..and they are open for biznis….who’s gonna close them up
I was thinking the same thing last month.
http://deoxy.org/forum/showflat.pl?Board=politics&Number=55839&part=1#Post55839
Lou
As we await the next false flag operation remember this: Bin Laden has claimed responsability for various attacks, but he has denied doing 9-11. He has said he has nothing to do with it. Bin Laden has shown he is believable, so, if he didn’t do it , who did? Why was the official investigation so poor that the participants now disown it? Why isn’t there a new investigation? Who is hiding what? It is imperative that people understand what is actually going on if they wish to avoid the next act of treachery. 9-11 was a planned demolition, there is no doubt about that. Why is the official story, descredited as it is, still accepted, even by posters on this site?
The thought of those nuclear missles that were being transferred against military regulations has had me thinking of the who why and whats of the matter.What part of the puzzle do they represent? It doesnt play too much on the American media but China and Russia have been quite aggressive in their actions towards the United States.Are we all looking at a giant game of chess? They have both been getting cozy with Iran as of late…well they both have always been.Are we facing a West vs. East showdown soon?
Read about Neo Cons, they say that there is 5 times more people in this World than there should be, which is true…. but why make statements like that if you don’t plan on doing something about it, and soon?
The coup already happened, the end game has not, yet.
lizard asked: “Why is the official story, descredited as it is, still accepted, even by posters on this site?”
I would suspect it’s because the lie is so monstrous, that’s it’s really hard for some people to wrap their heads around. The fact that their OWN GOVERNMENT would kill 3000+ of it’s own citizens to achieve a political objective is hard for most Americans to wrap their puny brains around.
Would the military, even a small part of it, stop Bush or compliaqntly play along?
I don’t see these as “worst-case scenarios” but rather as possible truths. It is not so far-fetched for our own President to cease the election and appoint himself the General of the USA, which would then let him play with his privates all day. Seems like status quo?
He will use our own fears in an attempt to rule the world. Asking us to destroy every other nation which doesn’t agree with the American way of life. You know, the life where the rich get richer and the poor… well the poor are forgotten. The way of life that includes children starving, dying and suffering on the streets in this land of opportunity. The way of life that creates in those children, such pain and anguish they walk into schools and vent the suffering they can no longer endure. The way of life where causing destruction and harm have become the norm.
I’ve heard that children live what they’ve learned. What have our children learned? A fear of anything different? If you don’t understand something or you have a fear of something… simply destroy it! Is that what they’ve learned?
When will it all end? Will it be when we have nothing left and when the earth can no longer support life? Will that finally make his satisfation and domination complete?
Long live the King!
The King of… Nothing?
In a post by My2sense I saw the Bilderberg group mentioned. It would be a good read for many of you but I’d like to recommend reading the membership list of The Trilateral Commission. This group is the one that is only in business to protect the wealth of the elites of the world.There are several names there that would open a few eyes of those who believe that there are two separate parties in this country. Major parties that is.
This is not a conspiracy theory. You can read it yourself and then judge for yourself.
Not that I’m a supporter of him but Ron Paul had a good link to them on his homepage. Check it out. What have you got to loose?
sorry i showed up late to post on this one.
and it’s about damn time i’ve seen something about the nspd 51 here. (why, hello commondreams… just get off the boat?)
are the bets still on on when our democracy will end for the bush greed?
i previously thought it would be perhaps two months before the election… but as the new president isn’t actually sworn in until january, i’m thinking it’s going to be one hell of a december.
and i fully support the removal of bush, cheney and all the rest of ‘em…
BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.
On March 6th, 2008 3:10 pm, jamaz wrote:
“The Adams White House was burned down by the British. Did we suspend elections then?”
John Adams was the first president to live in the White House, but only for a few months, moving into it in November, 1800.
Actually, James Madison was president when the British set fire to the White House on August 4, 1814. It did not completely burn down. (A two-hour rainstorm helped.)
I don’t know about any other elections which may have been scheduled, but there was no presidential election at that time, Madison being in the middle of his second term.
“May none but honest and wise Men ever rule under this roof.” - John Adams
Nice sentiment, John.
RichM, as usual, is exactly right, and so is BeForKids (1:20 pm). Also, Bush could be tired or fed up with the job, or already so humiliated by his multiple transparent failures, that even if this article is predictive it doesn’t necessarily mean HE will remain president. All “they” have to do is appoint someone and declare national emergency after whatever events they stage manage. Probably not Cheney (pacemakers don’t impart immortality), but some functionary which the Repugs have in abundance. Maybe Boehner or Mitch McConnell. Anyone can fill the chair.
Thank God we have someone with the foresight, intlgentz. an com pissin ahv Jorg Bush to bee a benvlint dicktaker
jakenewton 3:38
There are videos on youTube from people visiting detention center sites.
Someone not long ago posted a list of sites here.
—–
I’m just glad that this time in New York the Mossad and CIA didn’t bring down the whole building with their explosion.
—–
This much power in the hands of a government is inherently dangerous. There may not be actual plans for a takeover but the fact that the power to do so exists is enough to worry us. Someone, sooner or later, will use the power.
If the election comes down to Clinton or McCain – I will vote for McCain. Though both he and Hillary are pieces of shit, at least McCain admits that he is a Republican.
mainspark said: “Actually, James Madison was president when the British set fire to the White House on August 4, 1814″
Actually, it was more the proto-canadians that torched the place. Sure, we were still a “colony” at the time, but whatever.
I once heard a comic remark about the possibility of this President not “having an exit strategy”. This is the first man who has been President of the United States of America, who is so heinous, who is so clueless about boundaries and ethics, that this comedy bit could turn into a tragedy for this nation.
Woe to the people of the nation of the free… no longer free.
so what are we going to do about?
fill the tank up, sigh without hope, look at our kids with reddened eyes…
i’m 22. my generation needs to step it up. i realize that and a lot of us do. but what do you do when you’re born into decadence with no cultural heroes or muses, no sense of sacrifice (and thus no sense of accomplishment or glory)?
They ain’t gonna suspend the elections. The Repuks NEED Demoks in the White House. The Repuks need to cultivate some American Amnesia over the next four/eight years so they can come bolting out of the gate again on a new rampage. They also need the Demoks to balance the books to keep the empire from collapsing. It’s a very well developed three steps backward, one step forward system they have worked out among themselves.
I’ve been predicting this exact thing for months.
Patriot Act, Violent Radicalization Act, Uniform Commissions Act. Bush is already a de-facto dictator. The next ‘911′ will most likely be an alleged ‘cyber attack’ on the banking system; next thing you know there will be Blackwater Hummers, with wanna-be GI Joes hanging out the gun turret, zooming down your block, ala: Post-Katrina New Orleans, “we’re taking all your guns. No one is allowed to have a gun.”
Watch this for a scarily prescient(?) view of where we’re headed.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1656880303867390173
after reading all the posts here, thank you RichM, I think you have said it all!
” 9-11 was a planned demolition, there is no doubt about that.”
Thoroughly debunked. If you are going to argue this, don’t simply repeat the old arguments without handling the debunking arguments.
Why is the official story, descredited as it is, still accepted, even by posters on this site?”
Because both flying planes into buildings *and* intentional demolition represent an exponential increase in complexity of the plan, greatly enhancing the chances of failure. Because the planting of the explosives required for the three collapses while people still worked there everyday, with no evidence any disruptions by the demolition workers that this would require is so implausable that the hijakings by men with boxcutters is much more beleivable by comparison.
“There are videos on youTube from people visiting detention center sites.”
Where are the sites exactly?
TRUTHSEEKER 58: I feel what you feel. The other day I was thinking about the use of torture in this nation, the 911 trigger, the false war, the lack of opposition from the Democrats and the depth and breadth of the entire outrage. And I thought of Bush and Cheney, sick mad men who hide behind religion and/or patriotism and it seemed to me they truly believe they are beating all records on that dark, Machiavellian “thing” called power. And how do they define power? Sure, the usual descriptions of wealth come to mind, but I had an insight into these deranged minds. History often is writ in statistics, such as “X” number of persons were killed by this military leader in that war, etc. I think these two see their power, their historical record in terms of how many they feel allowed to SLAUGHTER. That is the measure of their wrath against humanity, the heavens, and all things good and decent… and that does not begin to assess the slow toll of those damaged from war, the broken soldiers who fell for an illusion of masculine glamour wrapped up in jingoism, OR those exposed to the detritus of modern war, depleted uranium and its chemical cousins.
everyone assumes the worst and that a red flag event in the US will halt the elections. What about a red flag event overseas? Like Israel nuking Iran (with US endorsement, of course)? Could that be turned into a scenario for NSPD 51?
Keep believing and “debunking,” Jake.
GeoGroup, formerly Wackenhut has many dozens of these facilities in the US and hundreds throughout the world to include the contract for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. But hey… are you sure you want to know WHERE they are, eh? Ever hear of Google?
If you go to protest with those of us that don’t have our heads in the sand… wear a Zapatista Cowl if you don’t want to lose your job, your business and your home. Krystalnacht for dissenters. But of course, we’re all paranoids buying into them thar “outrageous conspiracy theories” on the “internets.”
Try the Tacoma Flats, Buck. Don’t go at night though. I don’t think they love pansy-liberal apologists for the Bush Junta.
GeoGroup has promised to round up and incarcerate twelve million people before 2012. The contract’s already been cut. But hey… I must be crazy. Who would do actually do such a thing?
And even if they did do this massive movement of humanity, unprecedented in human history… I’m sure they’re ALL guilty of something, eh? After all, we’re a nation of laws with Government Officials that respect the Constitution.
Read the book “The Meaning of Marxism” by Paul D’Amato. His chapter called ‘Democracy, Reform and Revolution’ is particularly apt to this discussion.
I lived 8 years in New York and it has changed for the police-state worse over recent times. Indeed Times Square was a high crime area—and for that reason has been swarming with patrolmen as well as plain-clothes officers for a long time now. So, I can’t imagine how this “bomber” got away in that fairly controllable area. No, gee, I just can’t imagine.
“Ever hear of Google?”
Yup, and I see that Geo Group is involved with privatizing prisons. What’s that prove about alleged prison camps ostensibly built to be used in an alleged impending implementation of martial law?
“GeoGroup has promised to round up and incarcerate twelve million people before 2012. The contract’s already been cut. ”
Source for that?
Remember what they did to Ceaucescu in Romania. Madam DeFarge, where are you in our hour of need?
If some Blackwater folks show up at our door with handcuffs and say, “Come with us, please”, can we shoot them for intruders? Otherwise, our family and friends will never see or hear from us again. Then again, they probably won’t ask nicely or show up in the daytime.
truthmonger,
If corporations are considered “persons” yes.
Come on! Such an action as this small bombing was long overdue! The bombing was a nonviolent property-damage action by an anarchist. I cheered when I heard the news.
Are you now going to suggest that the burning of those McMansons near Seattle by the ELF last week was really a “false flag” operation too?
Helooooo! yes, USA, there are still some militants in this country with some fight in them!
jakenewton — Try out this exponentially increasing complexity:
that’s surely one ID_ten_T, where ten = 10
Who cares whether we have elections or not - we won’t have any candidates anyway!
Work to build your community - Ignore the federal government. With any luck maybe they’ll just go away.
And if some good anarchist gets the good fortune to do, er, a McKinley re-enactment, are the 911 kooks going to call that an inside job too?
“jakenewton — Try out this exponentially increasing complexity:”
Name calling. Classy. Why even bother? If you have nothing of substance to say, that is.
Cmarc’s earlier post…”Besides, just look at Bush. His face just screams that he’s tired of this job. He’s about the last person that would want this to continue past Jan 20. He’s never had a job in his life that’s made him work, so he just wants to quit and go home.” I thought I was the only one thinking the same!!!! Imagine the fatigue in Iraq from the troops and the remaining civilians/refugees/freedom fighters, etc.
“2000 Bush and Cheney stole the election in Florida. In 2004 they played dirty tricks in Ohio”
Okay, and what did the Democrats do? Nothing. Why the hell not try it again? What do they have to fear from an “opposition party” intent on keeping impeachment off the table?
“stacked conservative majority on the Supreme Court.”
Okay, and who helped get these conservative justices confirmed? Let me guess, does it start with a D?
“Obama evokes memories of JFK and Martin Luther King”
Okay, now this is an insult to Dr. Martin Luther King. Obama didn’t spring forth from the civil rights movement. A more apt comparison would be to evoke memories of Condi Rice, Colin Powell and even Clarence Thomas. Oreos through and through. Candidates groomed by the elites to carry out the status quo agenda under a colored and friendlier face but no less intent on carrying out the dirty and ruthless work of empire.
Iowa Irish, I’m from the young camp. Please don’t say “the young” are signed, sealed, delivered to the rulers of our country. Some of the young feel disenfranchised, have dropped out and are depressed or aggressive gansta types, or wannabe corporate types. But there is a growing number of the young, who like Martin Luther King, Ghandi, and that “crazed” old man John Brown who have decided to connect with each other, the youth of the world and to put our energies together to make a better world for us and also for our children. Please do not predict that we cannot do it. We predict nothing and only look at possibilities. As yet we are small as was Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth Rosa Parks sitting at the front of the bus, Alice Walker intermarrying in the most dangerous of times in Mississippi and others. Look at the Dalai Lama, the buddhist monk, can’t spell his name who teaches engaged buddhism. Please have faith in us to do the right thing. For a lot of us Cindi Sheehan has given us courage as she did Camp Casey right there in Bush’s backyard to get him to take responsibility for Casey’s death. We love you Cindi.
In 2003 the ICE launched Operation End Game, the largest police operation in US history, to remove all undocumented migrants from the US by the year 2012.
Oh, were you listening to Lou Dobbs? I don’t want to interrupt, but his wet dream is already in progress. You might want to tell him.
The illegal alien question is the START BUTTON for the Police State, which is not only legally and operationally ready to go, it’s half way down the track.
Prejudice, is contempt prior to investigation. Regarding appeasement liberalism, I’m not at all prejudiced. I have contempt AFTER investigation.
Do your own research or continue in blissful, snarky ignorance.
If you think YOU are not on the hit list, then obviously, you weren’t in Seattle in 99 or you’re unfamiliar with legal efforts to criminalize anti-globalism and dissent.
You’re on your own. I’m done with you.
RichM, You hit the jackpot this time. I salute you!
BeForKids, The Dems also supported Scalia and Thomas with their “friends” on the other side of the isle. Great comments, Kathyodat.
Truthseeker58, I agree with Siouxrose on your thoughts on the matter. Well said.
TonyVodvarka, How about a nation of willfully ignorant Manchurian Candidates for the asking. I know what you mean Tony.
Atruepatriot, Thanks for the link.
I remember listening to Kris Welch interviewing Michael Parenti a few years ago on Pacific radio station about elections and such, and the wise man told Kris, “I don’t do crystal ball gazing.” We all have our beliefs in what may or may not happen, but the evidence is clear enough that the infrastructure is deteriorating which is part of the master plan. The question is: Will the breaking point actually occur, and if so, will the people take to the streets, or will they continue in docile servitude to the ruling elite?
This is the excuse that allows Dubya, Cheney, & Co. to violate the 22nd Amendment of the Constitution. Considering the sheer mass of law breaking that has occurred under the aegis of this criminal gang, it is not surprising. If they do try to stay in power after January 21, 2009, nothing short of an armed insurrection will get them out.
We have all heard about Presidential Directive #51… and frankly, if Bush &/or Cheney has the balls to pull that one, I think we will see 20 million people marching on Washington with pitchforks and torches like the villagers in an old Frankenstien movie.
I’ll be near the front of the pack.
Ms. Betsy Hartmann,
Thank you for your article it raises some good questions. However I must add, let’s not be DISTRACTED. We have to mobilize the people of America to VOTE and VOTE THEIR CONSCIENCE. How many more needless deaths will we allow in the name of the American Flag? How many more countries must we bomb for our own interests? Is oil that important? I went for a bike ride the other day and had a beautiful evening. So what I must say to you Ms. Hartman is let’s go one step at a time. Let’s focus on the chance we have in this election to make a difference. Even if it is just wishing and praying at night. These are the small things that go a long way. Mother Teresa said she believed in the small miracles. And perhaps a general election is not a small thing. But it is just as important. And what is important is that this country collectively believes. Just like the New York Giants could believe they would win the Super Bowl. As one other commenter mentioned they just want us afraid! And they want us to feel powerless. We are not powerless! We have the power to vote!
PEACEMAN — Thank you for summarizing the highlights, I agree wholeheartedly.
It is a pleasure and a honor to converse vicariously, and although distant, we still muster the ability to communicate clearly.
Considering that semantically more than 80% of normal communication is non-verbal, one has to wonder if writing works better because we’re not being hit with so much contradictory non-verbal messages.
Perhaps the newest generation of text (messaging) happy ones will break some new ground?
Namaste
I was watching the Daily Show with my daughter and the guest was Tom Daschle, a “superdelegate”. Jon Stuart was trying to understand what, exactly, a superdelegate was.
After about 5 minutes my daughter looked at me and said “I don’t understand, don’t we, the people, elect the president?” I laughed, but she didn’t understand what was so funny; actually neither do I.
riverman:
> TRAITORS are worse than the enemy so the clintons will go down as the most corrupt politicians in american history!!!
You know, all this breathless ‘what if he suspends the election?!?’ paranoia is not at all new. The wingnut websites and commentators were speculating along _exactly_ the same lines back in 1999-2000.
Spartacus: There is noone from outside to do it. Bin Laden didn’t do 9-11. If another attack materializes it will again be an inside job. There are no terrorists waiting in the wings, its an illusion. They’ve had plenty of opportunity to do something and there has been absolutely nothing. It is just an illusion perpetuated by the government.
Jakenewton: You need to catch up. There is ample evidence of disruptions. Cleaners were dismissed. Workers were seen in the buildungs for night after night. Traces of explosives were found even thoguh they carted everything away immediately. There are winesses to the fact that building 7 had been rigged for demolition. It is a matter of record that someone said they had demolished the building under orders. It is indeed complex. The bigger the lie, the more likely it is to be believed. They are counting on you to see it as impossible. I agree entirely that it looks crazy. I didn’t believe it either. However, a building can only come down this way by demolition, never mind three! Yes, it seems impossibly complex, that’s the way its supposed to look. Focus on the fact that the buildings didn’t bend, buckle and crumble, they came straight down. That doesn’t seem impossible, it IS impossible. The demolition is very difficult to do, but not impossible. Mossad specializes in the complex. There is very strong evidence of Mossad involvement.
Jakenewton: tHOROUGHLY DEBUNKED? How was it debunked? I have seen nothing of the sort. Debunk it for me. I don’t want to believe this was treason by the government, I would rather believe it was terrorists. Help me believe what you believe, it would make me feel better. What I believe really bothers me. I would rather not believe it.
Two words:
Reichstag fire.
My bet is an attack on the Capitol building or a “terrorist” attack on NYC around Halloween in order to intorduce martial law. Bye bye elections.
The market has lost nearly 2000 points since the beginning of the year. OIl is over $100 per barrel with the peak driving and hurricane season yet to come, and the Euro is valued at $1.50 with no reason to expect that direction to reverse.
What we have here is the 21st. century version of Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover getting ready to usher us into the next great depression with no FDR or fillibuster proof congress to act on behalf of all the people and not just elites.
Not only do I agree with Kelmer that neither Bush nor Cheney are that ambitious, I don’t think anybody really wants the job of presiding over the economic and cultural decline aes wesll aes t.hes forced impoverishment of the American civilization.
Whether we believe this article or not, we should be ready.
http://www.ryanhartman.wordpress.com
Well, if the attack does occur, would one expect that a target might be the White House itself? And, with the President in it? The ruthlessness of the National Security Conservatives pre-empts NOT expending the President himself. The man may go, but the office and structure won’t.
Think about it, and the ideal consequences…
An attack of this nature, to me, is not out of the question by any means, and far easier than an attack on Iran…
“You need to catch up. There is ample evidence of disruptions. Cleaners were dismissed. Workers were seen in the buildungs for night after night. Traces of explosives were found even thoguh they carted everything away immediately. There are winesses to the fact that building 7 had been rigged for demolition.”
Prove it, especially the last one please.
So help me God-if bush and his cronies pull this crap, this country will be in full revolt! There won’t be enough detention facilites. People really will take this right out into the streets.
aren’t we forgetting all about the NAU, amero and the (lack of) hoopla surrounding all of that?
When that goes into motion, all of what ya’ll are saying is a moot point, since there won’t be a Constitution.
Suspended elections?
We’re fucking Americans, we always have some fight left in us.
I’m going to get some breakfast and read “America” by Allen Ginsberg
If you vote for a Dem or a Rep you are just voting for more of the same pseudo democracy run by the rich. The false hope of Obama and the blatant pandering of Clinton is clear for all to see. While learning to live on crumbs we might as well send a message of discontent by voting Green. It will aid the formation of a grass roots movement toward a new way of living consistent with local community and environmental needs. Voting Green will separate the people of America from the misguided leadership of America in the minds of people everywhere. We know the routine, unplug from the system to the extent that you can, stop consuming unnecessarily, stop using credit, buy used, wear older and worn clothes, eat healthy, grow some if your own food if you can, use the barter system when you can, just simplify your life and learn to live in concert with the environment. This is the peaceful road to change. This is also the road to more independence and immunity from the ravages of the deranged rich.
“How was it debunked? I have seen nothing of the sort. ”
There is all kinds of debunking information easily available on various websites. You are either ignorant or disengenuous.
Maybe a better tone of the article could have been: our military, security and survellance industries are growing out of control, and we may have already seen how desires for profits can manufacture needs and fears. As we build more prisons, buy more guns and cameras, employee more gaurds, cops and soldiers, will we create new laws and priorities that land more people in jail? We’ve already seen the affects of the “War on Drugs”. What else can we create? Can we imagine just how far they will go?
I believe less in conspiracies, and more in natural tendancies of real life humans put in impossible situations or surrounded by greed, fear, hate, despair and false gods.
Jakenewton — The most important debunking sites are those that debunk the debunkers.
But all you do is assert repetitively the same old superficial excuses for reason and evidence, which makes you an annoying gnat that keeps buzzing around who never bothers to be non-disingenuous when given the real facts.
Your mind is very selectively sharp, and appearances overall indicate a passive aggressive streak of profound self-deception and self-doubt - for thinking for yourself. Who the hell are you attempting to impress, none of us get it. You ask and ask, deny and deny — and never anything about who you are or why you care, or if you even do. I’ve suspected for along time that you’re either pretending to be a 20-something duffess, or a troll — but there is a slight spark of interest every so often, AS IF you care.
Make us know that you care, and perhaps we might care about you. Lizard was generous and you superficially blow off what he says and demand him to fill the “burden of proof” for your points. How lame you are Sir, why do you even bother?
Namaste
The speculations by spartucus (12:17) bring to light the relative ease by which a small group of right or left-wing home grown terrorists could stop a national election. I suspect it will happen someday, but I’m hopeful we would recover after a bit of chaos and panic. A somewhat larger group of right-wing terrorists with ‘inside’ connections to political power could come up with additional chaos that might create a relatively more horrible situation.
RichM, thank you for your preception! I totally agree that we need to look closer to the ‘powers behind the throne’ and more long term, because they do. I have a feeling that that these same group of finaciers/families have been around for at least several hundred years, or at least are the ‘natural’ consolidation and continuation of wealth since wealth was first created.
“they” will keep you conspiracy-minded people on the edge of your seat forever. I want to look in a long-term view, of the slow, unrellenting economic slavery impossed by the ultrarich and preached by the slightlyultrarich and their duped commoners.
A President will not deliver us from evil. Only if we recognize and honor our own worth and power, if we honor our short and long term needs and not those of the financiers, only if the Individual frees himself, and in great numbers, will the masses break the spell of the financiers, will the masses realize the ‘wealth’ is created from their own productivity.
Thomas Jefferson (paraphrase): “When the last Prince is hung from the entrails of the last Priest, we will have Freedom.”
And I would like to repost what PeaceCoup wrote: “Don’t fall into the “framing” of fear. Everytime the Republicans try to scare the wallets out of us, just acknowledge their fears, put them in perspective, then talk about a peaceful strategy for victory.”
There is no need for the government to suspend elections. The two party system already precludes significant change. Predictions like this not only serve to polarize us into our conditioned useful yin and yang positions, but when they don’t come to pass the relief resulting from comparisons between disaster scenarios and more subtle reality keep us from recognizing just how widespread and advancing the methods by which we are controlled are.
At least that’s one way of looking at it.
Thank you TruePatriot!
http://www.gusmorino.com/pag3/greatdepression/
This essay made me think of “excessive industries” and their link to the age-old “financiers”.
If you ‘manufacture’ productivity and need, it is on false or shaky ground, and will fall unless you continue to inflate it. the automobile certainly allows the common man to do many things, but the common man existed before the car, and does not have the wealth in him to create a car on his own, so would have to borrow wealth, thus becoming a slave to debt. Nor can a man (in a large population) eat meat every day- it is simply outside of scale of wealth he can produce with his own hands.
Manufacturing meat can deliver that meat to the man, but he must still ‘borrow’ from his fellow man (through government and corporations) so that he and everyone like him can eat meat everyday. Or put another, the land of the United States could not support 300 million citizen farmers raising enough meat to eat every day, and the total citizenry of the United States could not eat meat everyday if it were not manufactured.
I am wondering what the industries and products we ‘enjoy’ today would look like if they were scaled down to a balanced, sustainable, local/individual sized wealth/productivity….
What would the credit industry look like if you only were able to borrow against the accumulated disposable/investable income of the people of your neighborhood or a local credit union?
What would eating habits be if you could only eat from growers only sustained by the wealth of your neighborhood? ‘Non-farmers’ would grow small amounts themselves, and trade for the rest with ‘farmers’. (I would imagine with the size of population, we wouldn’t eat much meat.)
What would your house look like if you could only procure materials locally, if you could only ‘manufacture’ things yourself and with your neighbors (or without ‘borrowing’).
If the US economy is unstable, if it is built upon ‘manufactured’ need and productivity, based on ‘borrowing’, what happens when there is nothing left to ‘borrow’, when you cannot ‘borrow’ anything to get a manufactured desire- or basic needs that have been mechanized for that matter. (I’m still not sure I’ve expressed this point well- if something is mechanized, it will break down eventually and will always need support, whereas something more ‘natural’ has longer staying power.)
“The most important debunking sites are those that debunk the debunkers.”
I am anxious to see your very best examples.
“burden of proof”
I’m glad you brought this up. It’s the burden of proof for those who positively assert that something is true to provide proof.
NAMASTE,
The exchange of ideas and information may be 80% non-verbal, which is probably a fairly accurate figure, but it still comes down to individuals coming together in person, united in defending what is being taken away by the morally and ethically bankrupt duopoly of the false two-party system of “closet-cronies.”
In the end, it is us, standing back to back, ready to fight the forward rush of the tyrants.
PAX
As long as Bush knows that he won’t be tried on any criminal charges, he won’t usurp the election process, in the outlandish scenario described by the author. The architecture described here is just more government bloat as the Department of HS struggles to justify its existence.
” there is a slight spark of interest every so often, AS IF you care.”
*blush*
I’m trying to help by pointing out the lack of critical thinking wherever exists. Everyone does it sometimes, people on all sides of an issue. The inability to think critically, or perhaps more important the suspension of that ability when it comes to certain issues will lead to the downfall of us all if left unchecked. Don’t you ageree?
jakenewton,
so you think you are demonstrating critical thinking? You have chosen a particular position and asserted it as if a provable and accepted fact, without any supporting suppositions or references. And then you attempt to rebuke others not with the presentation of actual facts or logical arguments but merely with simple questions that you yourself won’t submit to answering.
And then you laughably explain your posturing as critical thinking. NOT.
As for 9/11, there are a lot more questions than answers…