How many free elections are left?

[ronaldrwl]

How many more free presidential elections will America have?

[Marlin]

Interesting question.. There will be at least one.. Depending on the outcome of that one will determine the course of history after...


Won't really matter much come Dec, 20,2012 anyway....[Wink]

[ronaldrwl]

What if, the tea party movement grows and anger towards the liberals grow and at the same time the media whips up the feelings of racism on the other side (and you know that's comming). Now the 2012 elections get really ugly, Obama steps and declares marshal law and BTW I'm the president, forever!

Could it happen?

[jake]

What if, the anti-war movement grows and anger towards the conservatives grow and at the same time the government whips up the fear of terrorism on the other side (and you know that's comming). Now the 2008 elections get really ugly, Bush steps and declares marshal law and BTW I'm the president, forever!

Could it happen?
Obama can't even pass a health care bill with an unassailable majority in both houses and popular support, but you think he could pull off a political coup of that magnitude?

[Mtn.man]

Obama can't even pass a health care bill with an unassailable majority in both houses and popular support, but you think he could pull off a political coup of that magnitude?


Uh I think he already did.

[Marlin]

Didn't catch the sarcasm about the end of the Myan calander..

Gotta agree with Jake,, Obama has nothing.. He is very anti Military,, So unless Martial law is a "Humanitary mission" it ain't going to happen..

[jake]

Uh I think he already did.
Of course you do. And in 2000 and 2004 the fringe left were convinced that Bush had done the same thing. Nothing new to see here, move along.

[Dalendenver]

Have you ever heard of the War Powers Act? It was passed during WWII but was never repealed. Under the WPA the president can declare a national emergency and disband the congress making himself king for life. There was a lot of fear that Cuzzin Billy would do that but it is even more likely that this is Obama's plan for this fall. I can't believe that he is actually going to allow the Democrats to be voted out of office en mass.

[ChunkyMonkey]

Have you ever heard of the War Powers Act? It was passed during WWII but was never repealed. Under the WPA the president can declare a national emergency and disband the congress making himself king for life. There was a lot of fear that Cuzzin Billy would do that but it is even more likely that this is Obama's plan for this fall. I can't believe that he is actually going to allow the Democrats to be voted out of office en mass.

NOT.. I had a long argument with few guys who thought the same - not true on the disbanding congress either, war clause is also much more complicated..
The original..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Powers_Act_of_1941
The president has the power to reshuffle executive branch and independent agencies, but not legislative.

The more current one, which effectively or at least on paper overtake the older version...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Powers_Resolution


The War Powers Resolution of 1973 (50 U.S.C. 1541–1548) was a United States Congress joint resolution providing that the President can send U.S. armed forces into action abroad only by authorization of Congress or if the United States is already under attack or serious threat. The War Powers Resolution requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action and forbids armed forces from remaining for more than 60 days, with a further 30 day withdrawal period, without an authorization of the use of military force or a declaration of war. The resolution was passed by two-thirds of Congress, overriding a presidential veto.
[Beer]

[Irving]

Have you ever heard of the War Powers Act? It was passed during WWII but was never repealed. Under the WPA the president can declare a national emergency and disband the congress making himself king for life. There was a lot of fear that Cuzzin Billy would do that but it is even more likely that this is Obama's plan for this fall. I can't believe that he is actually going to allow the Democrats to be voted out of office en mass.


And what exactly would the national emergency be? Democrats losing seats in the house? Please.

[Dalendenver]

First War Powers Act 55 Stat. 838 (1941), Second War Powers Act 56 Stat. 176 (1942).

What about the continuing economic crisis?

[Irving]

I go to work every day, then come home and watch cable tv. Doesn't seem like much of a crisis to me.

[theGinsue]

It's all a matter of perception, now isn't it, young padawan?

[Irving]

Even if unemployment was at 20%, that'd still mean that 80% of the entire population has a job. Good luck telling everyone it's a national emergency when 80% of people are working and the economy got WORSE after you took office. I just don't see it happening.

[68Charger]

Even if unemployment was at 20%, that'd still mean that 80% of the entire population has a job. Good luck telling everyone it's a national emergency when 80% of people are working and the economy got WORSE after you took office. I just don't see it happening.

umm, no- 80% of those ACTIVELY LOOKING for work have a job..

with retired, injured, homemakers, welfare sponges, etc counted out, I wouldn't be surprised if it was well under half by that point

[Irving]

The point is, things would have to be worse off than they are now, for him to realistically even pretend that he could install himself permanently, and if things are WORSE than they were when he started, fat chance for him doing that.

[68Charger]

The point is, things would have to be worse off than they are now, for him to realistically even pretend that he could install himself permanently, and if things are WORSE than they were when he started, fat chance for him doing that.

I wasn't agreeing that he could install himself permanently- just wanted to correct the statement that unemployment percent is based on the "entire population"

[Irving]

Oh, thanks for clarifying.

[ChunkyMonkey]

I think the Fed will take the opportunity to expand itself immensely when the unemployment is in that kind of range. Scary thought!