Anyone else, besides me, who are scared?

[demgurl]

If the pubes have their way and Bushco is re-elected - who else is terrified?

He has lied and perpetrated fraud on the American people before he was even elected. It is scary, to me, to think of the atrocities he will do when he does not have to worry about another re-election and answering to the public.

He can go wild with the patriot act. He can draft all of our children. He can go hog wild attacking any country he sees fit. He is having people arrested for speaking out against him at rallies. He thinks he is doing God's work. I truly believe the man is one the edge.

If you think this man is crazy and dangerous right now, think of how he will be when he does not have to worry about the voters at all. After another four years his time is really up and he could go out with a bang. If he has plunged our country this far into despair in four years, what is the damage he could do in another four?

I am not just ranting - this truly scares me. What are your thoughts?

[Robbien]

1. Not going there.

We are working harder and smarter. Bush is toast.

Really, just don't go there.

[Auntie Bush]

2. I'm scared too! I wonder what he'll do when he becomes dictator?

[donhakman]

3. simply

[cliss]

18. Wow. OMG, Don.

Just when I think you've outdone yourself, along comes another amazing artwork. It's chilling, but beautiful at the same time.

You've captured the essence of this administration. That's a frightening rendition of Ashcroft. That intense look in his eyes. That burning need to reclaim all of us, for our own sake. The smoldering dysfunction. It's all there.

I noticed the eyes are not centered. Notice how each eye doesn't look right at you, but actually looks beside you, on both sides. This could have a spiritual meaning, in the sense that he doesn't look at me; as a person with my own integrity, but instead just sees my outlines as the shape of a human, who he needs to control.

An old Swedish saying, "som man känner sig själv, känner man andra".

"As one knows oneself, one knows others".

[Zen]

19. I love it - Asscrap is evil - I think you did a good job of capturing that

!

[Media_Lies_Daily]

11. IMHO, FratBoy became dictator the day that the SCOTUS selected....

...him over the rightful winner, Al Gore.

Most people have been very slow to recognize that.

Look at EVERYTHING that has taken place since that time, and you'll see a pattern of aggression towards other countries, consolidation of power via the Patriot Act I and II, and the shifting of the country's wealth toward the top 1% of America's richest people.

[kohodog]

40. Right, the Coup has already happened.

But their arrogance and mis-steps have given us one more chance to reclaim democracy. I think the vote will need to be overwhelming against them or their dirty tricks (black box voting) can push them over the top.

They never expected to be in this position four months before the election.

As important as it is to dump Bush, it is equally important to pick up the Senate, House or both.

[swag]

4. Do your bench presses

Build your muscles.

We might have some veal to pound out.

[ParisFrance]

5. really?

Did he actually arrest somebody for speaking out against him at a rally?

[faithnotgreed]

8. a fema employee wore an anti bush shirt to a rally and she wouldnt leave

[Robbien]

9. People wearing anti-Bush t-shirts were led away in handcuffs

These two people were just part of the Bush rally crowd, not saying anything to anyone, but the police came and took them away in handcuffs.

[ParisFrance]

14. The law

Has this woman broken any law? No. Even if he is the president , the law comes first, I would had like to hear our founding father speak of this.

[soup]

29. also June 4, 2001 in Florida

Were these among the first? I'm pretty sure the 'First Amendment Zone' set up in Tampa, far from the ballfield, was one of the first of its kind.

>snip<
Inside the ballpark, three demonstrators carrying anti-Bush signs were arrested after they refused to leave, Tampa police spokeswoman Katie Hughes said.

Janis Marie Lentz, 55, of New Port Richey, Mauricio Rosas, 37, of Tampa, and Sonja Haught, 59, of Clearwater, were each charged with trespassing after warning, police said. Haught also was charged with disorderly conduct because police say she tried to resist arrest.

Walter Sorenson, 81, of New Port Richey was knocked down after police shoved one of the arrested women, he said. He suffered a cut on his head.

Sorenson said he was carrying an anti-Bush sign too, but put it in his pocket when told to.
http://www.sptimes.com/News/060501/TampaBay/Protesters_kept_at_a_.shtml

---

The signs in question read 'BOO', 'Investigate Florida Votergate', and 'June is Gay Pride Month', and were written on letter-size paper.

There's another article here:
http://www.commondreams.org/cgi-bin/print.cgi?file=/views01/0617-02.htm

-----

TAMPA FLORIDA - July 27, 2001 - Today State Attorney Mark Ober announced the dismissal of charges against Grandmother Janis Lentz, who was arrested after Republican operatives pointed her out to Police for removal from an event at Tampa’s Legends Field.

Ms. Lentz, Grandmother Suni Haught, and a friend were arrested June 4, 2001. One was accosted for holding a sign that read in part, “Boo!” Supporters of President Bush were allowed to remain, displaying signs that were supportive of Mr. Bush, while the grandmothers, whose signs requested an investigation into the Florida election, were forcibly removed from the stadium when they insisted that they had a right to display their signs too.

Defense Attorneys W.F. “Casey” Ebsary, Jr. and Luke Lirot of Tampa, represent the trio who has been charged since their June arrest with trespassing, and in the case of Grandmother Suni Haught, an additional charge of disorderly conduct.

Mr. Ebsary states, “It was a dark day for Democracy when the rights of this Grandmother were trampled by operatives who found her protestations offensive. It is too bad that someone in law enforcement with the courage of the State Attorney was not at the stadium to stop this assault and the arrest of these people. Democracy shines in Tampa today."
http://www.protestzone.com/archive.htm

The protest zone site has archived a chronology of events for the incident.

[midwayer]

6. The scariest part for me is the possibilty

that the PNAC group may live by these ideologies:

it's called Hegelian Dialect

Step 1. Thesis - A problem is intentionally created
Step 2. Antithesis - Opposition to the problem is created
Step 3. Synthesis - The desired result is brought in as a solution

[midwayer]

10. correction

Hegelian Dialectic

[Ten Bears]

7. Yeah, I'm scared

This long national nightmare that is * needs to end.

[teryang]

12. You're on to something

I've become somewhat fatalistic and detached about it as I watch my future and standard of living and that of spouse going down the tubes while the trumpets of war and police power blare away.

Recently, when I spoke to my son, I was shaken out of my lethargy by his anxiety about the future. I don't know what generation he is X, Y or whatever. He is an aspiring writer and I tried to encourage him by noting that the creative impulses of the human spirit are somehow roused and inspired by the constant litany of lies and other offenses against humankind that we now witness daily sponsored by our own leaders.

He feels ordinary people usually apolitical or even redneck ignorant about politics finally suspect things have taken a wrong turn, that is a turn distinctly against their modest interests. He thinks its too late to reverse course. I try to be more upbeat about it, as the cassandra role is wearing now that it is coming in vogue.

But these people in power are murderers, thieves, war mongers and potential dictators. There is good reason to have apprehension as there is no real evidence of any substantial check on their power. This is some evidence that the election may be another farce. I hope it doesn't turn out that way.

[diamond14]

13. these are VERY DANGEROUS times in America.....

but be strong and don't be scared...get busy and help on the Kerry campaign....it's the best way out....right now, with the CIA chief gone, the U.S. Army Secretary gone....and other high level bushies jumping like rats off a sinking ship...TWO wars raging on....it is very DANGEROUS times in America...

I lived through nixon, and as it got towards the end, it was very very dangerous...as nixon appeared drunk on TV, honest bureaucrats took the nuclear suitcase away from nixon....the government was in disarray at the highest levels...many nixonites were thrown in prison, up to and including the Attorney General, john mitchell....

we KNOW the TRUTH...but we must let others know too....

Michael Moore is a great inspiration....he and his family have been threatened and still continues his work....

John Kerry and his family have been threatened....but he still continues, and with OUR help, he can WIN and take back America....

these are indeed dark times...be strong...STAND UP....be strong...we CAN and we will TAKE BACK AMERICA, with YOUR help....

start here...volunteer...you'll meet others who share your American values...and that will help...
http://www.JohnKerry.com

[Booster]

15. I wouldn't say I'm scared, but worried? Hell, yes.

It worries me the most about Ridge's statement that the terrorists said they wanted to disrupt our election and may hit the Dem convention. It just feels like a setup and getting rid of the Dems that will be at that convention, would be right up their alley. Bush could declare martial law and since the war on terror will never end, he would become the dictator of America. That's what worries me.

[Syrinx]

17. I'm a bit worried about that too

What if they blow up all the Democrats? We'll REALLY be screwed then.

I know this scenario may be mocked as outlandish by some, but I really wouldn't put it past this pack of thugs.

[JayS]

22. It would be easy to do. n/t

n/t

[VolcanoJen]

24. I'm more concerned that they're trying to attach "Terrorist" to "Democrat"

It's as if they're saying "Hey, OBL is gonna pull a Madrid, so you couldn't possibly want to allow the opposition party to win, because, that would be exactly what the terrorists want."

I'm far more concerned that Americans will buy this new summer product line, than I am about attacks actually happening.

[DrBlix]

26. Hegelian Dialect

"Controlled Opposition" That is the real fear. In any case the Bush Cabal needs to go and we can take it from there and try to hold the line for awhile anyway. We must not allow them to name conservative justices to the supreme court, their appointments are for life. If democracy has any chance of surviving all this we need to prevent this from happening.
.
This is the most important election America has ever had.
.
The media is controlled, the electronic voting machines are preprogrammed, we better get busy and prevent them from stealing another election. DEMAND a pencil and paper ballot.
.
Even so we still have the Hegelian Dialect and the powers that be the NWO bunch, the elite have more than one horse in this race. Concentrate on getting the senate and the congress back. Fight towards that end like hell.

[Union Thug]

16. As for the Draft....

Here's an idea... don't go. Don't let your kids go.

Very simple. I encourage anyone of draft age to oppose and deny the military industrial complex another pawn. Let the whole goddamned thing collapse on them. The prisons can only hold so many people... and the anger of the American people can be bridled only so long..

[DrBlix]

54. As for the draft

You're right just don't go. Of course there will be many young men and women who just won't listen to this but for the most part it is a solution. They burned their draft cards during the VN war my prediction is they will do the same thing again. This war was brought on by lies and this is becoming a known fact. Why should our sons and daughters die for lies and profit for corporations.

[Sweetpea]

20. I just don't believe he is going to win.

[demgurl]

23. All of us here hope he is not going to win......

but so much of the country is so friggin' stupid. If they were not stupid or were not putting their head in the sand then there would be a revolt. People who voted for Bushco the first time may feel that voting a different way is admitting how wrong they were/are and they desperately do not want to admit that. At this point I think it is pride for so many of them.

I do feel the tide is turning as more and more people realize what the chimp has done to our once great country. The people who just won't hear of any wrong doing really scare me. Freedom of speech, questioning our leaders, finding the truth is what our country is based on.

To paraphrase a quote, 'You, Mr. Bush, are running a country with which I am not familiar any more."

[Beam Me Up]

49. Of course he isn't going to "win". He didn't "win" in the first place.

MORE IMPORTANTLY: This is WAY bigger than Bush. Whether he gets put back in office or not, the STRUCTURES OF POWER that actually operate behind the political curtain of Faux Democracy -- the same structures of power that not only put Bush in office but created the conditions to put him there -- will still be in play. They have been in play since the early part of the Twentieth Century. Those of us on the left have been struggling against hegemony all our adult lives and we will continue to have to struggle.

Is the situation more serious? Hell yes, worse than I've ever seen it in my 56 years on this planet.

But I'm not "scared" or "frightened." What I am is ANGRY ANGRY ANGRY at the lawlessness, stupidity, selfrightiousness, narrow mindedness, brutality and down right EVIL of people like * and far worse who stand behind him, support him, make it possible for a puppet like him to exist.

[otohara]

21. More Like Terrified

The thought of 4 more years of this daily nightmare is terrifying. The world community will never forgive US if this man is given another term. It will take decades to undo the damage he has done to our standing in the world.

[indigobusiness]

25. Imagine what he will do as a lame duck...

the mind boggles.

[Ruffhowse]

27. If he is elected, watch out for the Supreme Court

Chances are he could nominate 3-4 Supreme Court Justices, and they would all be as conservative as Scalia and Thomas. Good bye civil rights, abortion, and more. Welcome to Amerika.

[calico1]

28. This is why I have a problem with people

who want to nitpick about what they don't like about Kerry. We need to realize this is the most important election of our time. Its different from Nixon because with Nixon his own party realized he was a crook and wanted to get rid of him. I don't see that with Bush. We have got to stop whining about what if anything we don't like about Kerry and realize that the one goal we must have in common and stay focused on is getting rid of Bush. The nitpicking and complaining can come after.

[Deja Q]

30. I second that!

"Critical" is an understatement... :scared:

[Disturbed]

32. Nitpicking?

I sure as Hell don't want BushCo to remain in power but no being pleased that both Kerry and Edwards are pro-Iraq invasion and plan to stay the course isn't nitpicking in my view. Iraq is a lost cause. The Troops and Multi-corps need to be pulled out within a few months after Kerry gets elected. I do feel that he will now because most average IQ people seem to understand that BushCo is poison for America and the World.

[calico1]

33. My point is I hope people don't "nitpick"

or whatever you want to call it--enough to not vote for Kerry/Edwards or vote for Nader or not vote at all. All of this helps Bush and we cannot afford 4 more years of him! That is what I'm saying. Once Kerry/Edwards get in, then I am all for criticizing what needs to be changed. I don't love every single thing about them but right now my priority is get Bush out!

[Boomer]

35. It's damage control at best

Ousting Bush will at least put a stop to the radical excesses of the PNAC crowd, but it will hardly change the imperialist march. We've been on that course through too many administrations -- Dem and Repug -- to derail it with the election of a moderate/right-leaning candidate like Kerry.

Kerry is stop-gap measure at best. His support of the Iraq war and Israel mean he won't rock the boat.

My fear, even if we win the election (which is a very big "if" at this point), is that Americans will think the fight is over, utter a huge sigh of relief, and simply return to their complacent avoidance of the military/corporate ownership of our government.

[porkrind]

45. Great point. I think you're right on. (n/t)

:dem:

[Hippo_Tron]

59. This is why senate races are key

Chances are that we will pick up Obama and Knowles and keep a dem senator from Louisiana, but expect losses in South Carolina and Georgia and some very close races in Florida and North Carolina. The other problem, is that we still have Daschle at the head of our party in the senate. Should Kerry loose, we will have to hold down the fort in the senate with the supreme court nominees and I'm just not sure that Daschle can do that. We need somebody like Pat Leahy or Dick Durbin in charge.

[Justice]

31. I am angry

and I am going to work for Kerry/Edwards and make sure they get in.

I am not curling up in a corner out of fear, I am donating time and money to make a difference. And you know what, lots of people I know are doing the same thing - people who never before donated or contributed time are putting in time and money - and that change is the reason Kerry/Edwards will win.

[demgurl]

34. I agree, we should all do everything we can.....

I just hope it is enough to defeat those who would have our country run into the ground. We all need to encourage everyone we can to act.

[skooooo]

44. We don't have time to be "afraid"

[southernleftylady]

36. Yes I am scared... If he is screwing us this hard when he is trying to get

reelected... we are DOOMED.. just think how shitty he will treat us when he doesnt care about the other half of the country

[Mari333]

37. Ill leave the US if he steals it n/t

[porphyrian]

38. Nope. I'm done being scared. Time for them to be scared. - n/t

[Q]

39. I'm more afraid that...

...'gurl' will replace 'girl'.

[bogey18]

41. I am scared of any religious zealot

who wields power - whether his name is George, Tony or Osama. Whenever you think God is on your side, no matter what horror you perpetrate, it always smells like salvation to you. When other people criticize you, they are always misguided and do not have the same pipeline to God that you do. And when people blindly worship and follow you, it confirms God's love of you in your twisted mind.

I think the plurality the neocons have put together combined with the absolute power of big money on America is putting us dangerously close to truly losing many of the freedoms we have sustained for the last 200 years. And it won't be a hammer blow - to most Americans, it will be seen as a good thing as our basic rights slip down the drain one by one. When the legislation to permanently install a police state is signed and passed, the majority of Americans will be watching "My Stupid Brother-in-law" or some such and hoping that next tax cut is big enough to pay for an HD TV.

[Marymarg]

42. Yes, I feel the same

I wonder if the Democrats in Congress are making contingency plans this time in case the election becomes the debacle of 2000.

I think (and hope) that, if the unthinkable happens and a coup is attempted, there will be a large resistence. Does anyone know if there are plans in the works by anyone?

[davsand]

47. Would YOU publicly advertise plans for resistance?

Given the attitudes and atmosphere today would YOU publicly state much more than your displeasure at the idea in advance? I sure as heck wouldn't.

With the abuses going on right now, I wonder if it is even safe to offer opinion on here on certain subjects let alone speak about any form of resistance to the actions of these guys. If they are targeting protesters NOW, what would they do if they actually went public with a coup?

I think it very likely that folks who announce any plans to resist would probably just vanish into holding cells someplace and never see the light of day. I do realize that scenario may be overly optimistic of how resistors would be treated, too.

In reality, if it got so bad that they were rounding up people hostile to the regime, I think you could possibly find large grave sites in places where the public is not allowed.

So, in answer to your question about are people publicly talking about a resistance in the event of a coup, no, I doubt it--not the smart ones anyway.

And to answer the original poster's question, yeah, I'm scared of what could lay ahead.


Laura

[Marymarg]

50. Public??

I didn't say "public." I agree with you, no one is his/her right mind would make such plans public. I was merely being speculative.

[davsand]

53. I feel like pessimist, but...

I'm even afraid to speculate TOO much! :scared:

Peace to you!

Laura

[merh]

60. When Kerry and Edwards were in Florida

they were constantly telling the crowds that they intend to see that all votes would be counted. I firmly believe that they have a plan of action should the repukes try what they did in 2000. I also think that they are going to watch the polls and the election day activities like hawks. The difference between 2000 and 2004 is that the dems know what the repukes are capable of doing. They have plans on how to deal with it.

And to use the quote that the clown in chief couldn't remember
"Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me."

[jukes]

43. Fear

is reasonable & can be useful. it motivates.

even if kerry wins, & is inclined to, it wd eat up every second of his admin to correct the damage that has been done.

i don't think we'll win. it appears the tide is turning, & the word is starting to leak out, but too many americans don't want to disturb their "beautiful minds" w/ the awful truth: america has become a hideous, bigoted, bloated giant intent on consuming the earth. we are the knowledgeable few.

i'm afraid our country is lost.

i see a future of cynical "holy wars", and a future world government, not of democracy, even the flawed democracy we were last century.

the new world will be ruled by an oligarchy of huge corporations, true zaibatzus, perhaps posing as a theocracy, fueled by the sweat of a huge working class. woman will again be forced to be baby factories, supplying new conscripts for the chain-gangs.

better that we destroy ourselves, & make room for the advancement of a species more capable of evolution.

[Th1onein]

46. You're right. And I think that everyone is afraid.

eom

[TexasSissy]

48. I am truly petrified. I can barely bare to think of it. And I voted for

Reagan the first time! But this guy Bush (and Cheney and Wolfowitz and Rumsfeld) are so crooked and so up to no good that it truly has me scared (and very angry) that they might just win.

[heidler1]

51. Good News, Kerry/Edwards jump in the lead.

Kerry/Edwards jump in the lead. See http://www.rasmussenreports.com/Presidential_Tracking_Poll.htm

Kerry/Edwards also lead in Electorial votes:
July 9, 2004--If the Presidential Election were held today, Senator John Kerry would win 247 Electoral Votes, President George W. Bush would win 203 Electoral Votes. 88 Electoral Votes would be in the toss-up category. Thirty-seven (37) of those toss-up Electoral Votes are found in Michigan and Ohio.

[indigobusiness]

52. I'm scared of fear.

I loathe the dark forces at work...and dread the future.

[JayS]

55. I'm not scared. I can only die once. n/t

n/t

[Hippo_Tron]

56. Put it this way, I don't know what will happen if * gets another term...

And I don't want to find out.

[testing123]

57. I am scared of him stealing another election

He needs to be straight jacketed and locked in a rubber room.

He thinks that he is Jesus Christ and that he is from heaven.

He is about as nuts as someone can get.

:scared:

[AlFrankenFan]

58. It's a thought that occurs to me at least once a day

The scary thing is if he is elected (God willing he won't be), my step-father, a conservative, wants our family out of the country. And he's an ex-Marine. It ain't no overreaction. What he could do to our country is unimaginable beyond our most wild nightmares.

[testing123]

61. Where are you going to move to?

I am thinking about getting out as well.

[Make7]

62. You give them way too much credit.

Since World War II, the United States has survived the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and numerous terrorist attacks throughout the world. We made it through the Nixon and Reagan administrations.

Do you really think Bush and his people can do something that we, as a nation, will not be able to recover from? You give them way too much credit - and the American people not enough credit - you will see people protesting like you have never imagined. History has proven that the people can make a difference. I believe we will make a difference in November. And if we lose that battle, the war is not lost - the battle plans will just have to be redrawn.

True harm can only be done if we go along with Bush and his people, which I think is damn near impossible at this point.

-Make7