Elections will be postponed or canelled in the event of a terrorist attack

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Donkey Rhubarb

Guest
Associated Press | July 1 2004

WASHINGTON -- The government needs to establish guidelines for canceling or rescheduling elections if terrorists strike the United States again, says the chairman of a new federal voting commission.

Such guidelines do not currently exist, said DeForest B. Soaries, head of the voting panel.

Soaries was appointed to the federal Election Assistance Commission last year by President Bush. Soaries said he wrote to National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge in April to raise the concerns.

"I am still awaiting their response," he said. "Thus far we have not begun any meaningful discussion." Spokesmen for Rice and Ridge did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Soaries noted that Sept. 11, 2001, fell on Election Day in New York City -- and he said officials there had no rules to follow in making the decision to cancel the election and hold it later.

Events in Spain, where a terrorist attack shortly before the March election possibly influenced its outcome, show the need for a process to deal with terrorists threatening or interrupting the Nov. 2 presidential election in America, he said.

"Look at the possibilities. If the federal government were to cancel an election or suspend an election, it has tremendous political implications. If the federal government chose not to suspend an election it has political implications," said Soaries, a Republican and former secretary of state of New Jersey.

"Who makes the call, under what circumstances is the call made, what are the constitutional implications?" he said. "I think we have to err on the side of transparency to protect the voting rights of the country."

Soaries said his bipartisan, four-member commission might make a recommendation to Congress about setting up guidelies.

"I'm hopeful that there are some proposals already being floated. If there are, we're not aware of them. If there are not, we will probably try to put one on the table," he said.

Soaries also said he's met with a former New York state elections director to discuss how officials there handled the Sept. 11 attacks from the perspective of election administration. He said the commission is getting information from New York documenting the process used there.

"The states control elections, but on the national scale where every state has its own election laws and its own election chief, who's in charge?" he said.

Soaries also said he wants to know what federal officials are doing to increase security on Election Day. He said security officials must take care not to allow heightened security measures to intimidate minority voters, but that local and state election officials he's talked to have not been told what measures to expect.

"There's got to be communication," he said, "between law enforcement and election officials in preparation for November."

From the White House, a nightmare scenario

U.S. News and World Report | 5/24/04 issue

White House officials say they've got a "working premise" about terrorism and the presidential election: It's going to happen. "We assume," says a top administration official, "an attack will happen leading up to the election." And, he added, "it will happen here." There are two worst-case scenarios, the official says.

The first posits an attack on Washington, possibly the Capitol, which was believed to be the target of the 9/11 jet that crashed in Pennsylvania.

Theory 2: smaller but more frequent attacks in Washington and other major cities leading up to the election.

To prepare, the administration has been holding secret antiterrorism drills to make sure top officials know what to do. "There was a sense," says one official involved in the drills, "of mass confusion on 9/11. Now we have a sense of order." Unclear is the political impact, though most Bushies think the nation would rally around the president. "I can tell you one thing," adds the official sternly, "we won't be like Spain," which tossed its government days after the Madrid train bombings.
 
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train

Guest
You either elect on time or you don't - if not Bush gets another 4 years by default - and it's an extension of his first term - so he could run again...:D
 
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Donkey Rhubarb

Guest
If the Elections to be cancelled in the event of a terrorist attack.
If that happens, there will be riots everywhere. And what a better excuse to declare martial law? Once we're there, there's NO TURNING BACK.

I wouldn't be suprised if the government engineered the attack, like Hitler engineered the fire in the Reichstag.

Over and over, we see throughout history, Governments use CRISES to seize power and deny liberties. Its so important to understand this.
 
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Istanbul

Guest
If elections are slightly postponed in the event of a terrorist attack, that's understandable and acceptable.

If elections are CANCELLED in the event of a terrorist attack, then the terrorists will have caused us to do more damage to ourselves than they could ever do. I would truly consider that a victory for those who despise America.
 
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Donkey Rhubarb

Guest
Would that also mean that the terrorists would rather have Bush in office?
 
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Reverend Love

Guest
Admit it Donkey...your begging for this to happen. Then all your little wacko conspiracy ravings will be true, and you'll stand triumphant amongst the loony elites. It’ll make all those days, weeks,…years? Of spamming message boards with your drivel worth it…well to you at least.

XOXO
 
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Donkey Rhubarb

Guest
I'm warning you about it!

My "conspiracy ramblings" are allready valid!

IT'S HAPPENING NOW you poor sleeping fool! WAKE UP!

This is off the AP news wire!

Go ahead and search for the article online!
 
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mythosx

Guest
Look donkey, look at this way. If it isn't true. You are a loon. I know the bill is in the works but it isnt final. If it is true. So what? Are you doing anything about it or are you just crying like a little girl? If you arent doing anything about it then stop bitching. If you want our help then ask for it. I would help you do petitions or anything of that nature. Heck I would even go as far as take a trip of the white house and go up to bush and call him a giant oink. No one likes people who just sit and sob in the corner. Take a dump or get off the can.
 
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Chaos Turtle

Guest
To suspend, postpone, or otherwise delay the Presidential election, an amendment to the Constitution would be required.
 
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train

Guest
I still say bush gets an extension...

and honestly - I think they'd amend this beforehand, or postpone it if an attack did occur, simply because they don't want all the celebs in one place at one time...
 
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Donkey Rhubarb

Guest
Originally posted by Reverend Love
Moonbat your so angry you could make baby jesus cry...
Wow, so not only are you ignorant, but you're hateful and bigoted as well!

They shouldn't be able to technically DO this. Elections are left up to the states.

You know, the 10th amendment, that sort of thing...

Reverand love, I think it's great that you think I'm a dirty hippy. You are a really stupid, jaded, ignorant, bigoted, and assumptious human being, and I feel sorry for you.

I understand that life is easier with stereotypes: God forbid you actually have to learn anything about anybody.
 
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train

Guest
They shouldn't be able to technically DO this. Elections are left up to the states.
No, they shouldn't, but if that event occurs - I bet it happens...
 
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Ivotekerry

Guest
They would let Bush get away with anything no matter what he does it is sickening how the media take up for him. They would would let him win the election like that before they would Kerry Clinton and Gore. To me Bush is a bigger liar than Bush 1 or Clinton for some reason people and the Media are caught up in his patriotism(killer in other words). The USA is wrong in this case and so is Bush. Shoot when my sisters are wrong or me I will admit it why could'nt I say it about my country.

Alot of people treat Bush like he is Jesus Christ that has got to stop. Some people would vote for him if he walked in their yard shoot their parents and leave. They would believe he had a good reason to do so.

Gas prices have been high his whole term now before election they are slowly dropping alittle. Everybody thinks he has nothing to do with prices look at him Cheney and their buddies look at what they are in the oil business I know they have more to do with it than what they say.
 
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Reverend Love

Guest
Originally posted by Donkey Rhubarb
Wow, so not only are you ignorant, but you're hateful and bigoted as well!

They shouldn't be able to technically DO this. Elections are left up to the states.

You know, the 10th amendment, that sort of thing...

Reverand love, I think it's great that you think I'm a dirty hippy. You are a really stupid, jaded, ignorant, bigoted, and assumptious human being, and I feel sorry for you.

I understand that life is easier with stereotypes: God forbid you actually have to learn anything about anybody.
Dear Moonbat,

I've said it on multiple occasions. I'm a small petty individual afraid of change, especially the undergarment type. My faults, numerous as they may be, still don't change the fact your dirty tree hugging 5th Columnist socialist hippy.

Concerning the poo-flung-doo you post. Well Donkey they're your lies..so go ahead and tell'm like you want. Or you could cough up the sources of your information like I requested earlier. But that's in direct opposition of your goal. To spam not to inform. And god forbid we take a fine comb and cross reference the trash you post.

Your Fascist-Capitalist,
Reverend Love
 
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Bgdawg

Guest
Originally posted by Ivotekerry
They would let Bush get away with anything no matter what he does it is sickening how the media take up for him. They would would let him win the election like that before they would Kerry Clinton and Gore. To me Bush is a bigger liar than Bush 1 or Clinton for some reason people and the Media are caught up in his patriotism(killer in other words). The USA is wrong in this case and so is Bush. Shoot when my sisters are wrong or me I will admit it why could'nt I say it about my country.

Alot of people treat Bush like he is Jesus Christ that has got to stop. Some people would vote for him if he walked in their yard shoot their parents and leave. They would believe he had a good reason to do so.

Gas prices have been high his whole term now before election they are slowly dropping alittle. Everybody thinks he has nothing to do with prices look at him Cheney and their buddies look at what they are in the oil business I know they have more to do with it than what they say.
I think Kerry must have hit you in your imaginary brian when he threw his imaginary medal....er....ribbon....err

To say the media is giving GW a pass is to demonstrate you suffer from a lack of air. Could you be any less aware?
 
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