Another "SNAChU" in November?

Remember the Battle of Florida, in November-December 2000, over whether and how to recount that state's presidential votes? We could easily have a similar experience in November-December 2004, in any state(s) where the vote margins between Bush and Kerry are less than the election system's "margin of error" (whether human or technological).


The good news is that punch-card voting systems are being phased out, so election officials won't be examining many chads. The bad news is that meaningful recounts won't even be possible where voters use computers, UNLESS the computers have paper backup.


Florida's inaccurate list of alleged felons, apparently biased against blacks, will probably be an issue again.


Which states will have razor-thin margins?
We won't know until November 3.


We can reasonably guesstimate that post-election squabbles will be fierce in tight states --
unless the national popular vote goes decisively to one of the major candidates.


So there's a high risk of SNAChU (situation normal: all cheneyed up), inherent in a tight election.


And that's assuming terrorists don't manage to kill any large numbers of Americans on U.S. soil this year. On November 3rd, if Bush fears losing power, will he be looking for excuses to void the election, and/or to declare martial law?


If you're worried about your personal safety under martial law, you might consider voting early (by absentee ballot), then crossing the border into Canada or Mexico, BEFORE Nov. 2, to await the outcome.


Yes, I realize my remarks sound paranoid. I hope that, by New Year's Eve, hindsight will make my summer jitters seem silly. But the actions of the Bush regime have convinced me that certain major players (Cheney, Rumsfeld, Ashcroft, and Bush) believe the Commander in Chief is inherently entitled to do anything he thinks necessary, regardless of the U.S. Constitution. Their imperial arrogance deeply frightens me.



In my queer opinion (IMQO),
Tortuga Bi LIBERTY,
San Francisco
Sunday, 18 July 2004
http://pages.prodigy.net/seniornude


P.S.: For a rosier view of the November election, in light of the gay-marriage issue, please see:

[ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/07/18/MNG7S7MT4G56.DTL ]

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Please REPOST throughout USA.
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