Independent Country: Will Bush Cross the Line? According to Whom?

Will Bush Cross the Line? According to Whom?

Lew Rockwell , "I still think the Bushites will retain a (smaller) majority in both the House and the Senate, through spending, gerrymandering, voter turnout, and dieboldism.

"

Most analysts disagree, predicting something like a 15-seat gain for the Democrats, and . But that doesn't take the "dieboldism" into account. If the Republicans really are able to cheat with the voting machines, they could do one of three things:
1.

Keep their majority(ies), with some very narrow victories in some races, and "upsets" in others. This could lead to mass protests, as many won't believe the results.
2.

"Save face" by losing their majority in the House, but just by one or two seats, while keeping the Senate. The "better than expected" result will be a last-ditch effort for Bush to rebuild some political capital and preserve Rove's reputation. Those who doubt the honesty and accuracy of this outcome will be smeared as whiners and conpsiracy theorists.

3. Intentionally cause "malfunction" in the machines, by making some results go, say, 90-10 for the Democrats. Or make it look like the widespread cheating was done by Democrats by having them win some races by statistically unbelievable margins.

This will lead to mass confusiona and demands for re-doing the election.

If the election is rigged, there will be protests - some of which might get out of hand either spontaneously or through agent provacateurs. It is possible that the behavior of these "left-wing extremists" will mean Bush will "have no choice" but to use new powers granted to him in the latest Defense Authorization Act.

As Frank Morales writes,

Section 1076 of the massive Authorization Act, which grants the Pentagon another $500-plus-billion for its ill-advised adventures, is entitled, "Use of the Armed Forces in Major Public Emergencies." Section 333, "Major public emergencies; interference with State and Federal law" states that "the President may employ the armed forces, including the National Guard in Federal service, to restore public order and enforce the laws of the United States when, as a result of a natural disaster, epidemic, or other serious public health emergency, terrorist attack or incident, or other condition in any State or possession of the United States, the President determines that domestic violence has occurred to such an extent that the constituted authorities of the State or possession are incapable of ("refuse" or "fail" in) maintaining public order, "in order to suppress, in any State, any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy."

For the current President, "enforcement of the laws to restore public order" means to commandeer guardsmen from any state, over the objections of local governmental, military and local police entities; ship them off to another state; conscript them in a law enforcement mode; and set them loose against "disorderly" citizenry - protesters, possibly, or those who object to forced vaccinations and quarantines in the event of a bio-terror event.

Allen Roland ,

What would a morally bankrupt, criminal, and arrogant person with a casket full of millions do in order to retain power? What would a person who is willing to violate the Geneva Conventions, torture and degrade people, and watch as an entire American city slowly drowns on live television do to retain power? And what would someone like this, with an endless supply of resources and money, with the highest security clearances and running a campaign from the national seat of power, be able to achieve?

And, admitting this is getting into tin-foil hat territory, speculates:

The possibility of something sinister delivered as a diversion is not unthinkable, given this crowd and what they have already done. But how far would they be willing to go in order to retain power and thus avoid prosecution for crimes already committed?

If recent developments are any indication, we may be looking at something so drastic that I am fully ready to attire myself from head-to-toe in all manner of paranoia.

There is logic here, and it is measurable, adding fuel to my near panic.