RED ALERT- What the Bush team learned from Spain?

[underpants]

Last night and this morning as the talking heads talked and talked I got a funny feeling about something that has been discussed here in the past.

I can't remember how many times I heard "...what if there was an attack like this in the US in November...." or words to that effect. Dan Bartlett was on the Today Show and he pointedly didn't answer it and said basically the American people should rest assured that everything that can be done is being done blah blah blah....

I certainly hope there is not another attack not for political reasons but for the human loss that could be suffered. But what if a week or so before election day the RED alert is sounded?

What that would mean to you personally depends on where you live. I saw an article a while ago in which a NJ trooper said that at least in New Jersey only officials (police, National Guard, etc)would be allowed on the interstate. Basically that it would be an official snow day and only people who SHOULD be out and about would be.

In addition to Diebold problem is this another card up W's sleeve?
There doesn't have to be an attack they can just say they have received tips and intelligence.
A built in rainy day for the Republicans?

[DoYouEverWonder]

1. What Spain showed the world

(and so did NYC on 9-11) is that you can have a major terrorist attack and the world will still keep turning.

If Spain was able to hold a seemingly fair and free election only 3 days after this horrific event, there is no reason why we wouldn't be able to do the same here. Except that we all know that W will try to cancel the election for even the slightest excuse. However, I think the 11 million people in Spain who came out to protest last week would look small compared to the millions of Americans who will take to the streeta, if W tries to cancel or steal another election.

[eridani]

12. Spain used paper ballots

So that doesn't really apply here.

[gWbush is Mabus]

2. excellent point (to underpants)

i would acutually be willing to bet money that bush does this whether he is losing in the polls or not in late october/early november.

[WilliamPitt]

3. Red alert = martial law = no election

[underpants]

8. NPR on Red ALert in New Hampshire---blog and indymedia on NJ

http://nhpr.org/view_content/4615/

Jim Van Dongen, a spokesman for the Governor’s Office of Emergency Management, says the most noticeable would be a restriction on interstate travel:

Van Dongen/track 2/
Codered 1
The red alert, which is the highest level, would essentially mean a shutdown of the entire country for the duration – pretty much what you saw the evening of September 11, 2001 is what will happen. Air traffic shut down, marine traffic in and out, borders closed, all of that stuff would be shut down.

Residents would be able to commute to work.

http://www.nowarblog.org/archives/001365.html

As Sid Caspersen, New Jersey’s director of the office of counter-terrorism stated of code red: "You literally are staying home.... What we’re saying is, ‘Everybody sit down.’ If you are left standing, you are probably a terrorist'."

Here:
http://www.idaho.indymedia.org/news/2003/03/1387.php

[terryg11]

4. what the heck?

I just posted something similar to this. sorry undiepants, didn't mean to be a copycat

[jean]

5. For a minute there I thought you were going to say

Spain was a trial run, perpetrated by * Inc.

Your scenario would throw a wrench in the process. This should be discussed regularly until it goes mainstream so even the talking heads have to consider it. (Not necessarily the part about it being a Rovean effort)

Shouldn't the govt have plans in effect for this kind of emergency and shouldn't we hear about them?

Email questions to media heads could get some response - "Considering the terrorist attack in Madrid, what will our govt do in response to a red alert status prior to or on Election Day?"

[Nite Owl]

6. Scarey thought but when I hear

them talking about this, how Americans would react differently it sure seems like a set up coming. I sure hope not. I wish Kerry would be out there on this saying how this wouldn't have happened if we didn't go to Iraq. We gave OSL a gift of time to reorganize, now he's not so important even if he is caught. Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11 but they still make it seem like he did. We made our chance of another attack certain now.

[Fovea]

7. I think that Bush

misunderestimates how volitile this nation is right now.
I think that only a little monkee business would result in a very large
conflagration. Many would perish, America might come unglued.

To have a police state, you need uniform support among the police.
I am reading American Insurrection about Oxford Miss and the federal marshals and military being flown in. It could have very well turned into civil war 2. The local police and hypo did back down, but if they hadn't, and the state had not capitulated, it would have been one.

With 25 years of culture war behind us so far, and both sides focused now on victory, not compromise, don't expect Bush or DeLay to blink like the Governor of Mississippi in 62. When you are staring at victory or prison, you will do a lot of dirty stuff to win. I would not be living in FL, TX, CA, or NY this year if I could help it.

And looking at the BFEE/PNAC group, it is hard to imagine them having to run for it, while nullifying the pardon is being debated. When cornered, they will fight Americans just as happily as Iraqis, terrorist is a convenient stateless target. You can shoot anyone, and claim they are a terrorist.
If push comes to shove, they would far rather we die for their empire, than they pay for their crimes.

[MAlibdem]

9. i predicted that would happen

i predicted it last summer, at JSA...the rethug kids thought it was a good idea...

[underpants]

10. Apparently Hannity just mentioned it on his show.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1240186

[Ysabel]

11. but, but, but...

then how in the world will we be able to go shopping...?

talk about shooting themselves in the foot...

[Joanne98]

13. red alert no elections

Thanks to the stupid, naive, pink tu-tu Democrats who voted for the Patriot Act. That was sooooooo stupid. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they tried it. When Tom Delay used HLS against the Texas Dems they were sooooo shocked. Why? I really want to know why nobody we voted for could see this coming? The only way to deal with this is to accuse them BEFORE they do it. Will Kerry do it? Will anybody do it? In the meantime liberals might think about going gun shopping. At least to find out how much things cost. Just in case. Bush might just declare himself king. And THAT can't be allowed to happen.