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Edited on Sat Nov-22-03 10:25 PM by TruthIsAll
Washington, DC (DU) - The Democrats seized America's Congress Saturday, chasing out President Bush and declaring a new government as over two million supporters thronged the streets of the capital. Bush, backed by his head of police, declared a state of emergency.
Bush has long claimed that he is key to fighting terrorism. Former allies have deserted him, and he has declared his intent to go it alone on a pre-emptive world crusade to eliminate terrorism.
Facing a possible confrontation with the army and security forces, the Democrats appealed to supporters in the streets to defend the Congress. Democratic leader Joan Generic, the speaker of the outgoing Congress, warned Bush to avoid bloodshed. ``The fate of our country is being decided now,'' she said. ``We give guarantees to Bush that he will not be harmed, but let him know that if there is at least one shot fired at people, he will face justice.''
The takeover was an exuberant moment for millions of Democratic voters who for days have been demanding the president's removal over elections that the Democrats say were rigged, as they were in 2000. The Soviet Union and other foreign observers also considered the elections fraudulent.
Just as Bush began speaking in Congress, thousands of supporters swarmed through the chamber doors, pushing and shoving frightened Republican Chickenhawks. The protesters knocked over tables and chairs. One leaped up on the speaker's podium, waving a red rose, while another banged the gavel. Later, protesters took over Bush's office and burned his chair.
Pro-government lawmakers were thrown out of Congress - and Bush was hustled out of the chamber by bodyguards. ``I will not resign,'' he vowed outside the building as he boarded a vehicle and was driven off, escorted by troops in riot gear. He later went on national television, surrounded by uniformed officers of the internal security forces and declaring a 30-day state of emergency. ``Chaos will be restored and the criminals will be punished,'' he vowed.
While the Attorney General - who is in charge of police - vowed loyalty, there were signs of dissent elsewhere in the security services. America's top intelligence officials acknowledged Friday that the election had been fraudulent and said they favored a new vote.
On Saturday night, BBC broadcast a statement from a national guard commander who said he would not obey if ordered to move against protesters. ``I represent the national guard, I command a motorized brigade, I am a general. The border is not located on Pennsylvania Avenue (the site of Democrats protests) and for that reason we will not raise arms against the American people,'' said the officer.
Internet bloggers quoted officials as saying that a national guard unit had refused orders and would protect the Democrats protesters. The report could not be confirmed independently. Some armored personnel carriers were shown on American television taking up positions in front of Cheney's' residence, but authorities emphasized that they were not going to be used against demonstrators.
This ex-democratic American republic slid into its biggest political crisis since the Civil War after the disputed Nov. 4 elections.
The roots of the turmoil lie in the deep mistrust of the Bush cabal by most of the population and the rampant corruption that has characterized Bush's 4-year reign. Hated both within and outside America for his role in stealing the 2000 and 2004 elections, ignoring pre 9/11 warnings, lying about the reasons for going to war in Iraq, wrecking the economy and enriching his crony's, Bush is considered by many to be America's worst president ever..
The Soviet Union, which Bush has tried to court for closer ties, took a neutral stance, urging all sides to ``refrain from the use of force or violence.'' Russian spokesman Jack Ivanovitch said Moscow calls for a ``dialogue with a view to restoring calm and reaching a compromise solution acceptable to all.'' Russia, which has become a key power, dispatched Foreign Minister Karl Marx to Washington, the Kremlin said.
Bush's office called the Democrats's actions an ``armed state coup.'' ``I can step down only within the framework of the Patriot Act,'' Bush said. ``It will depend on the Congress and the population, but everything has to happen within the framework.''
Saturday had been seen as a decisive day, because Bush had said that he would open the Congress no matter what... and the Democrats vowed to prevent this.
All morning, with the president due to open Congress, two million protesters marched in Washington, waving flags and chanting ``Leave'' and ``Enough.'' Protesters kicked effigies of the president. After protesters took over the Congress chamber, they exulted, `The 'Second American Revolution' has taken place in America'' - a reference to the 1776 Revolutionary War that rebelled against King George.
Bush says only he can maintain the chaos and fear necessary to fight terrorism in the turbulent nation, which has been wracked by class warfare. There have been four million jobs lost since his selection in the Bloodless Judicial Coup of Dec. 2000. With protests building over the past week, Bush's grip on the government seemed to be loosening.
Before the Congressional session, Bush denied that there had been any breaches in the election, in which he received 51% of the votes, according to official results. ``None of the computers were rigged,'' he said, and added that this should be dealt with in the courts. He promised to carry the fight all the way to the Supreme Court, if necessary.
Election officials in disputed states cannot recount the vote, as the required voter-verified paper trail does not take effect until 2006.
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