And so it begins, the preparation for another coup

[nadinbrzezinski]

so once it succeeds (yes kiddies, we need to plan for the worst and hope for the best), what are YOU going to do?

And yes, there are many ways that you can see this happening.

These include the polls... create a race where one does not exist.

Oh and the perception that the change is the party in power... how inane that is, is besides the point

So start planning... and yes I assume they will be able to steal it

Oh and check with your local registrar to make SURE you are still on the rolls... that IS your first step, especially if you are black or any other minority... we know voting while minority is a crime in this country

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. My closest friends and I

have begun talking in earnest about what we'll do if Obama is not elected in November.

Switzerland, Canada, Las Vegas and a noose - all those options are currently in play.

I grieve losing my America, but it will be impossible to live here should the worst happen.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Here's the rub, we can DO SOMETHING about it

our forefathers used to. National strikes, all the way to the 1950s, come to mind

Oh never mind

I know, we are a nation of cowards any longer

[Tangerine LaBamba]

14. In my still-idealistic mind, I agree with you

But we are now a nation of sheep, and too many people are content with status quo, even if the status quo sucks.

Fear. The Republicans have made an industry and a religion out of fear, and the sheep are just going along with it.

If all else fails, they can always steal Pennsylvania - they probably will, anyway, just in case - so they're not worried.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. A saying comes to mind...

there is no illness that lasts a hundred years or anybody that will stand it.... (Mexican saying)

Once the house of cards that is the economy collapses (we are closer than people realize), all those culture war issues will go away... something about putting food on the table and keeping a roof over your head....

Revolutions do happen...

And they tend to happen during dramatic losses in living standards.

Now the question is... will this revolution be mostly peaceful? (New Deal) or not?

[Qutzupalotl]

2. Check to see if you're registered here:

http://www.votepoke.org/

If not, you can register there.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Cool, thanks saved me a call to the registrar

I do that every election

[Voice for Peace]

36. THANKS FOR THAT LINK!!

Just sent to everyone I know -- it's a great tool.

[stillcool]

4. Voting in a swing state..

is a risky proposition too. And I agree, that we all need to check our registrations and make sure we are good to go.

[originalpckelly]

5. I'm having a fucking revolution.

I'm sick of this shit of feeling powerless in my own goddamned country, and this bullshit has got to stop.

[undergroundpanther]

57. Yeah

That sounds like the right response.Raise the fist.

[AnnaLouise]

6. positive thought magnetizes

positive thought magnetizes

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. That's NOT ENOUGH

clear?

What is a REALISTIC plan?

[undergroundpanther]

58. New age crap

does not do anything.You might as well"pray"that things change that's how useful positive think bullshit is in the face of reality we did not and do not create by our thoughts.If this positive think had any power to affect this world , it would not be so fucked up if Buddha jesus and whatever other new agey religion icon you wanna pull out off your ass has failed,to remove evil,I think it means your positive thinking self mind fucking does NOT work for shit either.
Why not take a chance and fight,organize write,quit navel gazing and jazzing off your own delusional states.

http://www.geocities.com/athens/parthenon/7273/newage.htm

[ColbertWatcher]

7. Lots of suggestions on this thread ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3946997&mesg_id=3946997

[Cleita]

9. My "sources" (and you know what they are; no need to go into detail in GD)

tell me that there will be a grand attempt by the RNC to cheat on the election. We will go through 2000 again but this time we can't give up until every vote is recounted and every irregularity investigated, no matter how long it takes even up to the inauguration and beyond if need be. We will get Obama as our next President if we don't give in. Even the Supreme Court can't change it this time because if they do, it's time to start demanding that they uphold the Constitution that they are supposed to defend. However, the best thing would be for those who live in states and precincts that this might happen in to closely monitor their elections and be ever vigilant to anything unusual so this doesn't happen.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. I hate to say this, but at this point I don't trust any sources

or positive thought.. we need to be ready to fight, even a national strike if need be... marching on federal buildings, the whole nine yards and then some

[Cleita]

12. That's the message, we have to fight if the election is stolen again. n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. You know me, I will fight

[undergroundpanther]

59. I agree

However if I am going to fight in the streets I am going to have to find a way to protect my neck and spine and knees from further damage.I will have to find a way to build some spine armor and a protective neck piece so if a cop whacks me with a nightstick it will not further crush my fucked up spine ,spurs and discs.My knees will need support,and than I'll be ready.I need to find a strong ,cheap yet lightweight material I can shape to fit me and drill.I could cover it in leather,line it with impact foam and sheepskin wear it under my shirt. I will also make gauntlets with bars inside them so if I raise my arms to protect my head I won't get hurt.Any suggestions?

[lonestarnot]

15. K & R!

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. Thanks

[Cerridwen]

18. Like you, I would like to see a general strike if they get away with

election theft again.

Like you, I know the "conventional wisdom" is "Everyone knows not enough people would participate so it wouldn't work, since everyone knows not enough people will participate. So, it wouldn't work since everyone knows not enough people would participate so it wouldn't work..." I can never decide if that's a "Catch 22" or self-fulfilling prophecy or just circular "logic."

Oh well, I guess I should just get "with the program" and embrace the status quo. I don't imagine I'll see it change much in my lifetime. I once had such hopes. On my better days, I still do. Obviously, this ain't a better day.

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. It will happen... faster than we think actually

and even in our lifetime

As I wrote above revolutions do happen... whether peaceful or not is the question

But they do happen... and the reality is that world is going to hell in a handbasket economically

That will be the catalyst

And there is this wonderful sense of things are different from what we are told that's building

But when folks have to worry about where their next meal will come from... in fact this is already changing...

As to a national strike... if people knew they did happen in the past, they may realize it is time... but we don't remember what happened last weak, let alone fifty years ago... but I still have a smidgen of hope... that people will finally react.

[Cerridwen]

25. Thanks, nadin...

I surely do hope you're correct.

[nadinbrzezinski]

31. For the sake of nephews and nieces so do I

and I also hope the inevitable revolution remains peaceful

[FatDave]

44. It better.

Because in a battle between the left and right in America, the left is seriously outgunned.

[Caliman73]

34. ...

Well I am preparing for either one myself. I hope it doesn't come to a collapse, but they have been known to happen.

[nadinbrzezinski]

40. 1929 was an economic collapse, and we may see a very scary

collapse of the American Empire... at that point all bets are off

[Balbus]

19. Booga-wooga! Election fraud! Booga-wooga!

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. Keep laughing, but coups do happen in the US as well

I guess the it can't happen here crowd still have head firlmy implanted in sand

[Skittles]

28. yup

they are the same folk who say, "IF YOU'VE DONE NOTHING WRONG YOU'VE GOT NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF."

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. 'xactly by the way this is the reason why I decided to get a pretty

disposable netbook today. Meant for visits to parents in Mexico City. Border Control is taking computers away. Cannot afford them boys to take my mac away... this one was cheap enough... to ALMOST be disposable

Sad when we have to think of things like this... but alas we do...

At least if you are paying attention that is... and you are

[Balbus]

29. And I guess the it did happen crowd...

still have their head firmly implanted up their ass.

[nadinbrzezinski]

30. And some rather strong evidence

which the it cannot happen here crowd cannot even try to examine

After all this may affect all that American myth about exceptionalism and all that jazz

Future historians will ask the same questions asked about oh Germany in the 1930s, or Italy, or for that matter Spain and Chile, not to mention at least two dozen other nations... how could they be so blind to what was happening around them?

I guess somebody will have fun writing They THought they were Free, US Edition as well.

[seemslikeadream]

21. My very best friend

who ran for congress and has been extremely politically active since high school is convinced mcshame is going to win

oh and HE does not want McGrumpy in the WH

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. Oh I agree with your friend. We just disagree on the legality of it

the coup is now fully engineered and you can see it in the shameful face of we are gonna get there regardless

[seemslikeadream]

24. He is the most politically aware person that I know

[dysfunctional press]

26. if it happens again, that's it for me. i just can't takes it no more...

i'll arm myself, endure and live as simply as possible...perhaps even try to start or join in on some type of communal living arrangement...and wait for the eventual revolution, that hopefully comes before i die.

[Dover]

27. Do you think anyone could be elected and stay in power who ISN'T pre-approved?

I doubt it.

And could it be just as likely that they could select a "savior" for our weary hearts and minds
as in bad cop, good cop? The 'kinder, gentler' candidate? I mean isn't that psych 101, rat in maze material? And it certainly seems that the true power position has shifted to the Vice presidency.

Not that I don't think there are real differences between powerful groups about the direction this
country should move in, but at this critical juncture in particular, there's so much on the line, and so many global corporate business interests in the trillions of dollars, and arms trading, pipeline deals and geostrategic posturing, huge economic issues, etc., I have serious doubts that we will get anyone that isn't pre-approved. And if I were them, the easiest way to achieve that is to own all the horses in the race.

We are not in Kansas anymore.
Big energy interests already run this country having taken the seat of power.
That is where the interests are that plot our future at this juncture...clearly.
You'd have to be blind to miss it. And it will continue like that for some time
regardless of party affiliations. Change...REAL change...will come from the bottom up,
not the other way round.

[nadinbrzezinski]

33. Remember those same interests were "in charge" back in 1932

but the Great Depression forced the kinds of changes (yes that was a revolution) that they have been fighting against since

That is why FDR is called a traitor to his class by the usual suspects and why we even almost had a military coup in 1933, thanks General Butler.

That is their fear. FDR did NOT run on the New Deal... and the implementation took them by surprise.

As to McCain... I believe they are getting ready to do this again. Tens of thousands have been removed from rolls, we know this... mostly minority et al... why? They cannot afford the risk that the democrat will actually think on his two feet... which is what happened with FDR. And no, I am not counting on that either, by the way... my cynicism is to the point that the only reason they get my vote is that they are slightly better for my pocket book than the other guys.

[Dover]

38. FDR was particularly good at crisis management, but not really a change agent

in terms of the fundamental model of our culture, although I'm sure others feel differently.
And the war had a great deal to do with economic strength then too. Lets hope we don't
have to go that route.

Perhaps expecting real change and vision is too lofty a goal for these times, where crisis management
might be more realistic. Vision can, however, carry us through a crisis.

Of course if our pocket books are our only incentive for change, then we can be easily satisfied
with more of the same models. If we are moving beyond that self definition then perhaps real
change can take hold.

I do wonder if people simply want life to go back to the way it was when.... (fill in your own time),
or if there is a deep desire for a change at the root. Perhaps necessity, rather than vision, will drive that as well.

[nadinbrzezinski]

39. Oh no doubt, Historians will freely admit that FDR saved

Capitalism from itself, and made it easier to swallow on its hardest edges

Reality is that we no longer live under a capitalist system either... but that is another matter

But you are right, FDR was NOT a change agent at all... but what he did horrified the usual suspects and they have been fighting against that ever since

[Hannah Bell]

37. seems that the true power position has shifted to the Vice presidency.

interesting.

reagan-bush
bush-quayle
clinton-gore
bush-cheney


well, there's a case for it in 3/4 of recent instances...

as by family background & connections, gore's a bigger player than clinton...

[Dover]

42. Well perhaps CEO is more apt given the corporate culture of our government.

And behind the CEOs are the think tanks/brain trust.

[mzmolly]

35. I think we need to start registering Republican?

As long as it doesn't prevent one from voting in the primaries that is?

[nadinbrzezinski]

41. There are MANY reasons why I am registered Indie

but trust me, if they take it... for survival sake it might not be a bad idea

:-(

Yes, I could go into the one party systems that I have seen both in the flesh and in history books

[flamingdem]

43. Get involved with EDA: What you can do to Defend Election '08 links

click me click me!

http://electiondefensealliance.org/what_you_can_do_defend_election_08


Some examples from EDA's page:
*


Sign up for Election Verification Polling (Citizen Exit Polls) in November
http://www.electiondefensealliance.org/evp

Sign up with the I-Count Corps to handcount ballots
http://electiondefensealliance.org/count/signup.php

Download, read, and share the Blackboxvoting 2008 Citizens' Toolkit
http://www.blackboxvoting.org/toolkit.html

Explore the links at the EDA Take Action page
http://www.electiondefensealliance.org/takeaction

Write a Letter to the Editor (or your Representative)
http://www.electiondefensealliance.org/let_people_count

Find and join a local election integrity group near you
http://www.electiondefensealliance.org/Regional_EI_Directory

Join an EDA Working Group on a subject of your interest
http://www.electiondefensealliance.org/workinggroups

Subscribe for E-mailed EDA Alerts and Announcements

Donate Financial Support
http://electiondefensealliance.org/Donate

[emlev]

52. What you can do: here's an even more thorough and up-to-date list

The Action page of the new movie STEALING AMERICA: Vote By Vote

And see a preview, film clips, etc. here
You can buy DVDs from the website, and see what theaters it's playing in. It opens this Friday in Berkeley, Oakland and San Jose, California. (It's already opened in New York, D.C., L.A., Detroit and other cities. More listed at the site!)

Also, check this out: Standing For Voters
Here's where you find out how to challenge candidates (for any office, anywhere in the country, regardless of party) to contest elections if necessary.

[Selatius]

45. I hate to state the horrific fact, but this country has been derailed since the death of MLK.

He was the last of a crop of visionaries who could have avoided this current trajectory in time. If McCain gains control of the White House, then for many who lived through MLK's death and the death of others, it will be just another step in the long walk into the night as far as this once-great Republic goes.

All things change.

[FatDave]

46. There's a couple possibilities in my mind that you didn't mention.

First, they can start another war. Iran or Russia, take your pick. What happens in that scenario? Do any other countries come to our defense? Will they accept me as a political refugee? What does the rest of the world do when the most powerful country in the world goes rogue?

The second scenario, I'm afraid to even mention. Use your imagination, and think right around Halloween.

And consider this: will it even be any better if Obama wins? Remember the grudge they held against Clinton? You think it's going to be any better this time? Half of the country's still going to be pissed off, but this time it'll be the dangerous half.

We really just need to amicably split the country into Liberal America and Conservative America. It's crazy, but I'm starting to think it's the only way.

[Selatius]

47. War with Iran is infinitely more possible than a war with Russia. Russia would entail too much cost.

The end result of such a war with Russia would be the continental United States being reduced to a charred landscape. They are greedy, not suicidal.

[FatDave]

48. War with Iran is almost as suicidal.

And never forget, these people's greed is matched only by their shortsightedness and stupidity.

[Selatius]

49. That depends on totality. Unlike Iran, Russia could literally kill all 300 million Americans.

Iran wished it had that kind of power. At best, Iran could bankrupt the United States and push it into a Second Great Depression by shutting down the Hormuz Strait where all the oil flows out of the Persian Gulf and also bleed the US military into virtual collapse with guerrilla warfare in the event the US attacks Iran.

Neither situation is good, but if forced to choose between a war with Iran and a war with Russia, a good rule of thumb is to avoid the nation with 10,000 nuclear warheads.

[FatDave]

50. What you say is true.

But I wouldn't bet on Russia being the first one to reach for the button.

[Selatius]

51. Usually, by that point, both Russian and American missiles are in the air.

Neither side will walk away alive in a nuclear war.

[nadinbrzezinski]

53. Ah the glories of MAD *Mutually Assured Destruction)

one of those military acronyms of the cold war we wish was now dead and buried

It is oh so accurate though

[silverlil]

54. Amen

When it comes to San Diego we live in one of the most corrupt cities in the US. I am still going to be voting for the same city attorney. He is the only one in this town that tries to apply rules. he is trashed night and day in the San Diego Union. I dont like living here anymore, I am only here because my husband will not leave. After 40 years here I have had enough - ENOUGH, just like Senator Obama has stated. A coup - no problem in San Diego because it will happen here anyway.

[nadinbrzezinski]

55. Howdie neighbor

And you are right, I will be voting for Aguirre

Rule of thumb, if the UT does not like him... he's doing something right

[patriotvoice]

56. "How we gonna run reform? We the damn incumbent!"

(From 'O Brother Where Art Thou?')

Anyway, what you do after the fact is irrelevant: it's only what you do now that will matter. See:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6972020&mesg_id=6984594