Does anybody REALLY still think that Bushco will step down in 2009?

[ProfessorPlum]

In the last month we have learned that Bush lied about the leak investigation, and knew he was lying. We learned that Bush lied about the aluminum tubes, and knew he was lying. We've had it confirmed that Bush lied about the African yellowcake, and knew he was lying. We learned that he lied about the mobile biological weapons labs, and knew he was lying. We've learned that Rice and Powell knew about all these lies, and either furthered them or kept silent.

We've learned that Bush's domestic security protocols routinely break the law, and that they all know that, and they insist they are allowed to keep doing it. They keep pushing for the repeal of habeas corpus, first amendment rights, and the international rules of war. They have murdered over 2,000 American soldiers just to make even bigger profits and to control Middle Eastern oil.

They are now saber-rattling themselves into a confrontation with a country whose allies are China and Russia, all the while talking themselves into using NUCLEAR WEAPONS, and not understanding just how truly horribly monstrous that makes them.

Let's put aside the fact that they've obviously been monkeying with vote suppression and outright election theft for quite a while now.

Does anybody really think that this crew - Rove, Cheney, Rice - will take their hands off the levers of power willingly at this point? Even to another Republican administration? Who will say "no" to them? No one has said "no" to them for the last 6 years. Who would stand up and say they are wrong if they just declare martial law in 2008 and cancel the elections? Congress? It is to laugh. The Supreme Court? Not with this current mix. The military? No, they wait until they retire then they write essays about how they knew Bush's plans were all a cock-up all along. The people? They'll just be told it's "patriotic" to shut up, while Bill O'Reilly and Brit Hume and Tim Russert go on and on about how this is good for America and if you want a peaceful transfer of power you are clearly in league with the terrorists.



It doesn't even matter what excuse they cook up to keep power - terrorist attack, etc. - I just can't imagine that they will say, "well, it's been a good, profit-making 8 years, and now we'll just retire to lucrative private sector jobs and the rubber chicken touring circuit." These warmongers? Never.

[walkon]

1. I believe they will

do anything to stay in power. Anything.

[Sammy Pepys]

2. He will try to keep power indefinitely...

...but his efforts have begun too late.

[ProfessorPlum]

3. Really? Who is going to inform him of that?

Because I've not seen anyone who will stand up to him in any way that matters.

[wakeme2008]

4. Yes and No

If a Repug wins in 2008 then YES, but WHEN a Dem wins, he will IMHO do something to keep in power.

[Doctor_J]

5. Don't call them Fascists though

Good synopsis, Prof. There are still many, even on our side, who tink that we're still a democracy.

My feeling is that with their control of the voting machines, they won't need an explicit coup d'etat. It will be made to look like a real election, but they will retain all the branches of government.

That leads us to the real question - since we are unable to take control of our government, what does the "natural" end to the BFEE and PNAC look like? WWIII? A peaceful takeover by China? Civil War?

Stay tuned - this century will be interesting, though not particularly good, for Americans.

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. They'll replace the figurehead captain.

The crew will remain the same.

[Dhalgren]

7. I have thought this for a long time.

Friends have told me that I am crazy for thinking that the Dictator will just stay in power and no one will be able to do anything about it. Maybe I am crazy (these days it is hard to tell), but I also know that in every instance when a Dictator took control in a republic, it was not believed to be possible or to be happening or was seen as unstoppable by those who recognized what was going on. I think that you have hit the nail on the head and we had better be ready for it when it comes.

Recommended!

[spag68]

11. Martial law

I have thought this since Nixon's little plan was messed up by the impeachment. Then however we had a dem. house and now we don't. To my way of thinking this is as close to destruction as we have ever been. our only hope is an overwhelming defeat for them at the ballot box. It may be our last chance.

[GDAEx2]

8. Shrub is over his head and he knows it...

He can't wait to get out of there.
His Cronies will retire with their profits to the Caymans.

[ProfessorPlum]

9. That's a lovely thought

There's a bridge I'd like to sell you, too . . .

[rpannier]

10. Yes he will.

[saltpoint]

12. Yes. & possibly before if Patrick Fitzgerald's investigation tripswitches

new revelations about the administration's skullduggery.

The polls are tanking. It's hard to sustain power when there are zero initiatives meeting with popular support.

Lyndon Johnson comes to mind. Certainly a man who loved power, but the war in SE Asia overwhelmed his administration, and by March of 68 there was no choice but to step down.

There are also other GOP party stalwarts who have their minds on power, and if a drastically weakened and besmirched Bush team is in the way, the new guys will just mow them down.

And a flip of the U.S. House in November would prompt Conyers' judiciary Committee to subpoena documents. A LOT of Bush officials would decide to "return to the private sector" or "spend more time wiht their families" if that occurs.

[ProfessorPlum]

17. See, that's my gut reaction too - but when I think about it

sustaining power with no popular support is what this crew has been all about for quite some time now. They seem to be managing quite nicely, don't they? Even without popular support, it's not like they don't just keep doing whatever the hell it is they want. And nobody, NOBODY, stops them.

[saltpoint]

30. Well, you and I are stopping them. Offered the Kool-Aid, we decline

and move on to bluer pastures.

I think there is already a critical mass in the country that will make it impossible for Dubya to ever rise to effective heights again. He had his chance after 9-11 to be a Leader of History, a world-changer, and he abandoned every single avenue and mechanism that would have made him so.

In short, he's an angry fool, and for the first in his presidency, he's an angry fool with a lot of exposed infighting and no clothes on in the Emperor's parade.

I'm not heartened by what's come before, ProfessorPlum. I hear you on that loud and clear. But I think the garbage strike is over and this heaping pile that's on the curb now is off to the landfill real soon.

[paparush]

13. Lets hope we make it to 2009.... at this point 2009 is still in doubt...

[TallahasseeGrannie]

14. If you mean Bush, himself...

no, he won't stay in power. He is despised. He would have to have full support of the military in order to pull a coup like that, and he does not. And even if he did have massive support there, I don't think he could overcome their reticence to screw up the orderly transfer of power. Our coups tend to be covert.

Now could they steal an election and keep the GOP in power? Sure. But I don't think the election will be close enough to steal.

In short, I have more hope.

Now, if he nukes Iran...all bets are off. I think that would skew the entire mental, emotional status of the country and I just can't begin to predict.

T-Grannie

[Atman]

15. If for no other reason than to blame dems for the impending collapse

and then use that as their excuse for Diebold to cause a win for Jeb in 2012.

Otherwise, I don't think they have any intention of stepping aside. They'll slide in a "moderate" republican like McCain or Lieberman.

[Pachamama]

16. Glad to see I'm not the only one to think this about what lies ahead....

:hi:

[Kablooie]

18. I think it's very likely that they will stay unless...

.. something big breaks out against them SOON. Something outside the rule of law. They don't play by the rules and will win over anyone who does.

We are heading towards a scary and probably violent revolt or a future totalitarian society. One or the other in my opinion.

I hate this.

[ProfessorPlum]

19. Outside the rule of law? Like warrantless wiretaps?

That issue really seems to be bringing their regime to an end, doesn't it? Russ Feingold can't even get THREE other MFing DEMOCRATS to co-sponsor a resolution for CENSURE!!!

I think that your propsed test of how far they can go has already happened, and they have passed the test with flying colors.

[Doctor_J]

26. They keep expanding their boundary though.

My prediction: Another Kent State, at one of the anti-war rallies. They'll see if Cabal "News" and hate radio can sell that as a measured, justifiable response. If that flies, then will come the trains to the internment camps.

[0007]

20. junior will step down or be yanked down, one way or the other.

[ieoeja]

21. Yes

Cause they know perfectly well that they don't have to maintain 100% of the power 100% of the time. They can kick back a few years for a well earned vacation while someone else maintains the new center. Then come back to power and yank the country further to the Right before taking another hiatus while others maintain the new center. Then come back to power and yank the country further to the Right before taking another hiatus while others maintain the new center. Then come back to power and yank the country further to the Right before taking another hiatus while others maintain the new center. Then come back to power and yank the country further to the Right before taking another hiatus while others maintain the new center. Then come back to power and yank the country further to the Right before taking another hiatus while others maintain the new center.

[Kablooie]

27. You forgot the part where ...

They come back to power and yank the country further to the Right before taking another hiatus while others maintain the new center.

[The2ndWheel]

29. Well said, nt

[killerbush]

22. Hopefully he'll be stepping down a lot earlier

For all the crimes of this administration.

[Hosnon]

23. Yes I believe they will. nt

[Chomp]

24. I think that

if the Chimp was given a way out tomorrow he'd take it in a flash. I think he has come to hate the job and just wants out.

[Doctor_J]

25. If this were to happen though,

someone much more palatable would take his place, and by the time Nov 2008 rolls around, the MSM will have the replacement painted as a combination of Ghandi, Schweitzer, Churchill, and Christ. And she'll probably be black too.

[HughBeaumont]

28. You know, that's not too unfeasible of an argument.

These thugs aren't your average conservatives. They're not even your average fascists.

I wouldn't put it past Bewsh and his Edgar Bergens to want to be a monarchy. I think he would only concede power to another Bewsh, reluctantly to another Repuke and definitely NOT a Democrat. I'm really not pessimistic about things getting extremely ugly in Late 2008-early 2009. The public is sick of them, but the neo-cons aren't sick of the power and the corporations aren't sick of the perks.

[onenote]

31. I do. In fact I'm absolutely certain he'll step down.

Sorry, but regardless of what happens between now and 2009, there will be an orderly transition from the bush presidency to the next presidency. Oh, I suppose its possible we could end up with a disputed election, but chimpy will be gone on Inauguration Day 2009.

I've responded to these posts before, and I've made the same offer, and have yet to find a single taker: I'll donate $100 to DU if I'm wrong. Anyone who thinks chimpy is staying willing to back it up with a similar pledge?

onenote

[DuaneBidoux]

32. They will (and I dare say gladly)

[Joey Liberal]

33. They will not step down

They will rig elections and/or declare martial law.

[breakfastofchampions]

34. Then will we take up arms against them and fight?