CNN front page: Officials discuss how to delay Election Day

[Q]

U.S. officials have discussed the idea of postponing Election Day in the event of a terrorist attack on or about that day, a Homeland Security Department spokesman says. While some on Capitol Hill are questioning the possibility of a delay as "excessive," others are saying the discussions are part of a prudent effort to plan for "doomsday scenarios."

http://www.cnn.com/

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- Someone is REALLY interested in pushing this story. I wonder why? Seems like they're trying to get us used to the idea.

[Q]

1. CBS Front Page:

Report: Election Delay Weighed

The Homeland Security Department has asked the Justice Department to outline the legal steps required to delay the November elections in the event of a terrorist attack, a magazine reports.

[Q]

2. ABC Front Page:

Election Fears
U.S. counterterrorism officials scan an emergency proposal for postponing the national vote in the case of a large-scale attack on or around Election Day. Will we be prepared?

[Q]

4. MSNBC Front Page:

Election worries
NEWSWEEK: Counterterrorism officials, citing "alarming" intelligence about a possible attack inside the U.S. this fall, are reviewing a plan for the postponement of the presidential election.

[Q]

6. BBC

US 'may delay vote if attacked'

The Bush administration is reported to be investigating the possibility of postponing the presidential election in the event of a terror attack.

US counter-terrorism officials are examining what steps would be needed to permit a delay, Newsweek reports.

Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge last week warned al-Qaeda was planning to attack the US to disrupt the poll but conceded he had no precise information.

A senior Democrat in Congress has said talk of postponement is "excessive".

[Q]

7. PBS online newshour:

Al-Qaida Readying Domestic Attack, U.S. Warns
The United States continues to receive a steady stream of intelligence indicating that al-Qaida operatives are readying a major domestic attack aimed at disrupting this year's election.

[Q]

13. USA Today:

Posted 7/12/2004 9:05 AM     Updated 7/12/2004 9:50 AM


Counterterrorism officials look to postpone elections - 9:50 AM


WASHINGTON — Counterterrorism officials are looking into the possibility of postponing the November presidential election if there is a terrorist attack at election time, Newsweek reported Sunday.


Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge warned last week that Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network may attack within the USA to try to disrupt the election.


The magazine cited unnamed sources who said the Department of Homeland Security asked the Justice Department for advice last week.

[jean]

18. the Incompetents received a steady stream of intel in 2001 and

DID NOTHING! If they allow an attack to happen AGAIN they should be criminally prosecuted immediately - let's 'weigh' that option.

[Walt Starr]

3. Looks like the trial balloon is gaining momentum.

Welcome to Fascist Amerika.

[Meritaten1]

5. Why is this a concern for government officials now?

They've had almost four years since the election problems in Florida and nearly three years since the 9/11 attacks to consider this issue, and suddenly a last-minute plan to postone the elections is in order?

[SammyWinstonJack]

11. I'm guessing you know the answer to your question.

:-)

[Ripley]

8. The Backlash Cometh...

This shows me how freaked out Smirkaholic's handlers are. They see his nosedive. But they severely misunderestimate Americans. Snooping on Commie-lovers library cards ain't no biggie to them...but cancelling the elections? And that's what it is. How can you postpone them? When would you postpone them too? How far...a week, a month, a year?

Short of a nuclear bomb killing millions of Americans this won't happen. But maybe I'm just optimistic this morning, and btw what does Kerry/Edwards say about this?

[LittleApple81]

9. "They hate us because of our freedoms..." So if the "terraist" say boo..

we give up our freedoms. Are BushCo people admitting defeat at the hands of the terraists?

[Billy Burnett]

10. I guess then every American will be on the voter felon list

The foxes are running the chicken coop.

[yellowcanine]

12. Only way election date can change is by DIRECT vote of congress - they

can't give the power to the president or anyone else to change the date. Therefore, the only way the election date could be postponed would be for congress to convene an emergency session in the event of a terrorist threat/attack and pass a delay. I am sure this is the only way something like this passes Constitutional muster. Remember, congress has tried before to cede some of their Constitutional powers to the president - in the line item veto bill - and SCOTUS said NO! Can't do that. This is a trial balloon which will be a lead trial balloon within a week. Even the administration will deny any responsibility for it. Low level staffers will be blamed - though no one need look any further than Tom Ridge and Karl Rove, imo.

[Q]

15. Are you sure?

- Before the 2000 selection...many of us had thought that the Supreme Court couldn't stop an election and give it to their favorite. THAT's not in the Constitution either.

[thinkingwoman]

14. It's news!

Jeez, we all complain when the national media doesn't report a story, now we're complaining that they do?

Honestly, this SHOULD be front page on every publication and first in every broadcast. It's news!

Instead of "trying to get us used to the idea" it is possible they are trying to inform the public that their government is considering taking away their voting rights.

Just my 2 cents. Carry on.

[Q]

16. Do you REALLY think the American media is interesting in 'informing'...

..the public? After everything they HAVEN'T reported since before 2000?

[thinkingwoman]

21. I REALLY think we can't be hypocrites

If we bitch when they don't report and bitch when they DO report nobody will take us seriously.

Instead, why not praise good behavior and encourage more. Why not email the media urging them to put "flyboy" back on the shelf and air an hourlong examination of how resilient elections have been in our nation's history--holding elections during the civil war for example.

[CrispyQ]

23. And, do you think the public is interested in being informed?

They'd rather go shopping.

[aquart]

17. The only one afraid of a fair and free election is George W. Bush.

Osama already got his. No matter what happens now, we're in jeopardy because of George's policies.

THE ONLY ONE AFRAID OF THE AMERICAN ELECTION IS GEORGE W. BUSH.

He's terrified to let us go to the polls. This time, somebody might count all the votes.

That's all we have to say.

[Q]

19. This SMELLS like the kind of dirty tricks...

...the Bush*/Cheney/Rove gang would pull out of their hat when they think they're backed into a corner. The Left needs to understand that the Bush* Gang will do anything to stay in office. If they can't rig the polls...they'll create an environment of fear and distrust.

[MrMonk]

20. What's missing from these reports?

Has anyone brought up the notion that the gummint should be developing contingency plans to *hold the election* in the event of an terrorist attack?

[nickinSTL]

22. great point

Wish I'd thought of it BEFORE writing my congressman/senators

[nodictators]

24. Precisely! All that would be needed is Emergency Absentee Ballots

Hell, terrorists can't level the entire country. Most places would be able to vote on Election Day, only a few might not.

They already have provisional ballots in states like Florida. So, give the people who lived in the vicinity of an attack Provisional Emergency Ballots. Let them vote!

As I noted on a similar thread: if we had a postponment law, the incumbents who again failed to protect us would remain in power, probably for as long as they chose.

[Neecy]

25. what confuses me...

Is that the media whores have spent the better part of a month trying to convince us that an attack would benefit Bush*, that's we'd all rally 'round the pResident like we did after 9/11, that we wouldn't allow the terraists to decide our campaign like the cowardly Spanish, and other such lies and brainwashing.

All I can conclude is that Rove did some internal polling and found that the proles weren't buying it, hence this new tactic. After all, if it would benefit Bush* so much, the LAST thing the Repukes would do is delay the elections. I think this has much more to do with the falling poll numbers than anything else - sort of like a fascist insurance policy.

[tom_paine]

26. Yep. Things are EVEN WORSE than I thought

Unbelievable.