Election Postponement LTTE

[GiovanniC]

I wrote this one last week, just hours after Tom Ridge's stupid little press conference. People are paying even more attention now, so here it is again:

One hundred forty years ago, our great nation was torn in two in a war that threatened the very foundation of the United States of America. Nearly a million people were killed, their blood soaking the soil and sand of Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Maryland. With ongoing battles and bloodshed on American soil, the presidential elections of 1864 seemed particularly at risk. But this is America, a Democracy. It is a government that, as Thomas Jefferson said in the Declaration of Independence, derives its "just powers from the consent of the governed." And it is through elections that we give our consent to that government. During a bloody war on American soil, elections proceeded.

On June 25, the Detroit Free Press reported that the Bush-appointed head of the federal voting commission said that the "government needs to establish guidelines for canceling or rescheduling elections if terrorists strike the United States again." Not even two weeks later, on July 8, Tom Ridge of the Department of Homeland Security indicated that he was looking into the legalities and the constitutionality of suspending or postponing the presidential elections in the event of a terrorist attack.

Government actions have restricted our right to free speech and assembly with ironically named "Free Speech Zones" that separate Bush protestors from Bush supporters and quarantine them well away from Bush and the media. The Patriot Act infringes upon our freedom of privacy, the fourth amendment right to be secure in our persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures. The government has been fighting our Freedom of Information by being excessively secretive in their actions and working to prevent the people from performing an overview of their government. Recently, the government fought the fifth amendment rights of US citizens being held prisoner in military brigs and prisons -- the right to speedy trials, the right to a jury, the right to an attorney, the right to hear the charges against them, the right to call witnesses.

Now the government is setting into motion a plan that seeks to rob us of the most basic freedom a Democracy provides -- the right to elect your government and representation.

We are repeatedly warned that the terrorists "hate us for our freedoms". Does this government believe that if they strip away all our freedoms, that the terrorists will love us?

[Melodybe]

1. Wow this is really really good!

I hope that they publish it.

[ixion]

2. great LTTE, GiovanniC

People really need to nip this argument in the bud. There should be NO talk of election canceling or postponing. These considerations should not even be allowed to the table.

There is NO LEGAL PRECEDENT whatsoever for doing something like this, and the fact that they even think about it is just more evidence of this maladmin's tyranny.

I think your example of the US Civil War is a perfect precedent for NOT allowing this consideration to move forward.

[belle]

3. That last line especially--terrific talking point.

Nice work.

[HFishbine]

4. Excellent!

Did it get published?

[GiovanniC]

5. Not Yet

My local rag usually takes a couple weeks, although I was hoping they'd get this one in pretty quick because it's timely. I also sent it in to USA Today and the Detroit Free Press... so if you happen to see them, let me know!