Pentagon Seeks Power Over Elections in Arizona

[Kevin Spidel]

By Michael Shelby

Just when you thought the Bush administration power grab had reached its zenith in violating the Constitution and breaking the law with impunity, they go and insult us one more time. The Pentagon has made a written request of the Arizona Secretary of State, Jan Brewer, to allow her sole determination in postponing elections. In the event of a natural disaster, a state of emergency, a civil disorder, or any other catastrophic event, the SoS can unilaterally postpone an election. These overly broad circumstances have no definitions in Arizona statutory law. Given these frightfully ambiguous categories, Ms. Brewer or any SoS, after consultation with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, would have wide latitude to put off an election for up to 14 days. How would a natural disaster or state of emergency be defined? Would an earthquake or a hurricane suffice—how ‘bout a water main break? What would constitute a civil disorder— rioting in the streets, people carrying signs, a Cinco de Mayo parade? Maybe a Quaker meeting (they spy on Quakers don’t they?)?

Or, so that is what Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer would have us believe.

The letter from the Pentagon was addressed only to Ms. Brewer. It appears that Secretary Brewer has used Representative Doug Quelland–R to introduce HB 2148 with provisions that are not even asked for by the Pentagon letter. The letter from the Pentagon, dated January 3, 2006, basically asks that in the event of early deployment of military and National Guard troops that early ballots, including the ability to vote electronically, be provided. Bad enough that the Department of Defense appears to be trying to sneak in internet voting, but Secretary of State Brewer is apparently seizing the opportunity to push her own previously stated opposition to vote by mail (VBM) in Arizona. Representative Quelland, when presented an explanation of the ramifications of HB 2148, has now offered to withdraw the bill. But the nose of the camel may already be under the tent.

In previous statements, Ms. Brewer has parroted that tired aging canard of the Bush administration, “911 changed everything”. Now it appears Secretary Brewer is using HB 2148 to usurp the constitutional power of the people and take away our ability to hold elections if the natural or political climate isn't just right! Were states asked to empower some state official to postpone elections when British troops burned Washington in 1814? During the Civil War? When Pearl Harbor was attacked? Were such powers ever enacted throughout the years of civil unrest during the Viet Nam war of the Nixon years? Did we ever see this kind of attack on our singular citizen check on government after the Watts riots in LA or the 1968 Chicago demonstrations or the National Guard firing on unarmed students at Kent State? How about after the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), the Weathermen, and the Black Panthers were infiltrated or after any number of high profile assassinations? Were we asked to give over our right to vote? In the face of all these threats, the answer is NO! And we have but to look to the British during WWII when they demonstrated the strength of democracy by voting as buzz bombs and V2 rockets rained down on them to see the apparent bogus nature of this deliberate attempt to undermine election integrity...


The rest here: http://spidel.net/blog/?p=491
here: http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/7206
and here: http://blog.pdamerica.org/?p=513

[FormerRepublican]

1. They need to be careful with this crap.

Legally, even if they fail to hold elections, the officials previously elected will still be out of office when their term is up. The constitution specifies time frames in which elected officials serve. If they start suspending elections, I say we start telling them they are no longer our elected officials because their term is OVER! Legally, we would be correct.

NOTHING that Bush and his revolting boys do surprises me anymore. I know everything they say is a lie, and if they can usurp power to abuse, they'll be first in line to do it.

[bananas]

2. What disaster are they planning for in Arizona?

Are they worried about a cat 5 hurricane hitting Phoenix?

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Did John McCain get this memo?

[sarcasmo]

4. Looks like the November 06 natural disaster will be in Arizona.

Bird flu perhaps. The deployment of the guard and enacting Martial Law.