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WTF-God help us all, Bush and cohorts are madmen.
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| NYCTrancefan |
"Exclusive: Election Day Worries
July 19 issue - American counterterrorism officials, citing what they call "alarming" intelligence about a possible Qaeda strike inside the United States this fall, are reviewing a proposal that could allow for the postponement of the November presidential election in the event of such an attack, NEWSWEEK has learned.
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The prospect that Al Qaeda might seek to disrupt the U.S. election was a major factor behind last week's terror warning by Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge. Ridge and other counterterrorism officials concede they have no intel about any specific plots. But the success of March's Madrid railway bombings in influencing the Spanish elections—as well as intercepted "chatter" among Qaeda operatives—has led analysts to conclude "they want to interfere with the elections," says one official.
As a result, sources tell NEWSWEEK, Ridge's department last week asked the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel to analyze what legal steps would be needed to permit the postponement of the election were an attack to take place. Justice was specifically asked to review a recent letter to Ridge from DeForest B. Soaries Jr., chairman of the newly created U.S. Election Assistance Commission. Soaries noted that, while a primary election in New York on September 11, 2001, was quickly suspended by that state's Board of Elections after the attacks that morning, "the federal government has no agency that has the statutory authority to cancel and reschedule a federal election." Soaries, a Bush appointee who two years ago was an unsuccessful GOP candidate for Congress, wants Ridge to seek emergency legislation from Congress empowering his agency to make such a call. Homeland officials say that as drastic as such proposals sound, they are taking them seriously—along with other possible contingency plans in the event of an election-eve or Election Day attack. "We are reviewing the issue to determine what steps need to be taken to secure the election," says Brian Roehrkasse, a Homeland spokesman."
++++++ Is it just me or are we living more and more in a ed up America when this is the bull we have to even contemplate, I pray to goodness that Bush's ass is tossed out of the White House, there is no degenerate end to which these people will attempt to userp the rights of Americans. Wake up the blind, deaf and dumb in regards to politics. Why can't we see what is going on here. I was never a conspiracy theorist but more and more the Shrub and his cabinet have made me one. Unbelievable, cancel the elections, what next, martial law for the Republican convention in NYC. :mad: |
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| xKaoSx |
Jesus- will they do anything to stay in power for a couple more months?
Sounds like they want to see if it's an "option" if one does happen and oh gee if things arn't looking good for Bush at the time then maybe they will LET an attack happen just so they can stay in office. |
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| Q5echo |
you guy's are creating your own little world about this
as far as we know there is no contingency plan for a massive 9/11 style attack that would specifically target the election process, such as what happened in Spain and New York and the adjustments of such an attack to make it more successfull a nation wide, American election.
be thankfull that there are people in this country paid to think of like this (laws and plans) to protect the process. noone is saying that this is supposed to keep Bush in office for a couple months more, but plans must be entertained for contingencies. |
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| speedracer_mec |
now that the u.s. thinks of preparing for worst case scenario
yall complain
if something happened and we didnt plan
yall complain
so typical of democrats
nag nag nag |
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| ZinG |
if they postpone the elections, don't you think Al Qaeda will still attack the postponed elections?
what's the difference? |
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| MisterOpus1 |
It is kinda tempting to jump on the conspiracy bandwagon, but I do think some precautions are in order.
However, judging by this Administration's desire for scare tactics, and thankfully the public is catching on to it (93% believed the last terrorist warning by Ridge was politically motivated), it's hard to put anything by this Administration right now. They will do whatever is necessary to win, even if that compromises our national security interests (umm, Valerie Plame anyone?).
I understand the need to be cautious, and yes we should have people on this particular issue, but why this requires public notice is beyond me. That little aspect is kinda politically smelly to me. |
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| MisterOpus1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by speedracer_mec
now that the u.s. thinks of preparing for worst case scenario
yall complain
if something happened and we didnt plan
yall complain
so typical of democrats
nag nag nag |
Umm, yeah, that's what people do when they feel their government is going to .
I'm sorry the criticism bothers you, but I do seem to recall quite a bit of nagging going on about a blowjob some years ago, don't you? |
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| trancaholic |
| I'm wondering: if a massive terror attack (say, about 500 dead) was to take place in the US a week before the election, would that sway voters to the left (as in Spain) or the right? |
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| malek |
| my god, anything to stay in power... how about declaring martial law for an indefinite time!! |
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| MisterOpus1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by trancaholic
I'm wondering: if a massive terror attack (say, about 500 dead) was to take place in the US a week before the election, would that sway voters to the left (as in Spain) or the right? |
I think that's a good hypothetical, because I've heard both sides of the story - more people would run to Bush because he shows his strong-handedness towards terrorists, vs. more people would flock to Kerry because of Bush's failures to prevent terrorists from striking the homeland.
Of course I hope for the latter, but I would never hope for a terrorist strike scenario in the first place. I really don't know which way things would go. My inclination is that the 40-45% of voters who will always vote Republican no matter what will likely not even be pursuaded by such a terrible event, even though I think it does show Bush's failures (like underfunding Homeland Security, for example). |
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| trancaholic |
| quote: | Originally posted by MisterOpus1
I think that's a good hypothetical, because I've heard both sides of the story - more people would run to Bush because he shows his strong-handedness towards terrorists, vs. more people would flock to Kerry because of Bush's failures to prevent terrorists from striking the homeland.
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Pretty much sums up my puzzlement. I cannot immediately see anyone of the US PFRs answering my question as most of you are deeply rooted in either one trench or the other. I find that a flaw of this forum when it comes to discussing US affairs: we need some representatives of the swing voters - or those who do not vote. One fears they care too little about actual politics to post here :( (although I seem to remember that CortexBomb was a non-voting US PFR?). |
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| NYCTrancefan |
| quote: | Originally posted by MisterOpus1
It is kinda tempting to jump on the conspiracy bandwagon, but I do think some precautions are in order.
However, judging by this Administration's desire for scare tactics, and thankfully the public is catching on to it (93% believed the last terrorist warning by Ridge was politically motivated), it's hard to put anything by this Administration right now. They will do whatever is necessary to win, even if that compromises our national security interests (umm, Valerie Plame anyone?).
I understand the need to be cautious, and yes we should have people on this particular issue, but why this requires public notice is beyond me. That little aspect is kinda politically smelly to me. |
Exactly my sentiments Opus that is what has me mad, this constant repetition of a terrorist threat seems to be beyond comprehension. Every day it seems that Fox news has a new threat warning issued by the government, and I listen to them only about once a week, go figure:)
Wouldn't be surprised if terrorists warnings are issued throughout the election weeks and days buildup, gotta protect the people so re-elect Bush right:rolleyes: |
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