Could Michele Bachmann or Rick Perry become president? You bet they could.

[Cyrano]

Most of us consider Bachmann and Perry somewhat out of the mainstream at best and unstable psychopaths at worst. So how could one of them possibly end up in the Oval Office? Here’s how.

First, one of them has to win the Republican nomination. The powers that be would rather see someone who seems “normal” and whom they can control, like Romney, win the nomination. But the current reality seems to indicate that what the powers that be want, doesn’t matter. They were instrumental in forming the Tea Party branch of the Republican Party, yet, it seems to have gotten beyond their control.

Key electoral states have Republican governors. And redistricting (following the 2010 census) gave these governors power to carve their states into electoral districts that favor Republicans in national and statewide races.

The machines on which far too many of us vote are owned and programmed by companies whose owners favor the Republican Party. Add to this the Republican’s sordid history of voter suppression, “losing” certain votes, and recounting votes until they turn out “right.” This is how Karl Rove stole two elections for Bush Jr.

And then there’s President Obama. Many of those who voted for him in 2008 with high hopes, myself included, have become disgruntled and increasingly cynical. My fear is that many disillusioned Democrats might sit out the 2012 election.

So if Bachmann or Perry gets the Republican nomination, and too many Democrats decide not to vote … well, I guess that might be the last coffin nail in the American Empire.

I’m not saying that any of this will actually happen. But it certainly seems plausible to me.

Disagree with any of this? Let’s hear it.

[TrainToCry]

1. If they controlled the Machines, Obama would never have become President

"My fear is that many disillusioned Democrats might sit out the 2012 election."

It's a shame that so many are stupid enough to want to "teach Obama a lesson".

[Scuba]

5. Disagree. They just didn't think he'd win by 15 million votes, and didn't cheat "enough". n/t

[Cyrano]

20. Yep. Actual votes have to turn out close enough for the thugs to

steal elections without far too many people noticing vast discrepancies. After all, we wouldn't want the peasants to revolt, would we?

[Thinkingabout]

25. Cheat like Bush did?

[PufPuf23]

29. I don't beleive that the GOP wanted to win the 2008 POTUS election. nt

[Cool Logic]

2. It will be as it always has been...core D & R voters will be there to support their candidates...

But it will be the middle 10% that selects the winner.

[mzteris]

3. "too many Democrats decide not to vote "

THAT scares me.

Of course election theft scares me, too after the two bush debacles, BUT - overwhelming numbers might help prevent that.

No - it's the #@*%_#)@* "send a message" far lefties that concern me. Has Obama "done enough" No. But the damage could be far far far worse! Look at what happened here in Wisconsin. Yeah, that whole "send a message" thing worked out just f'ing great with Scot Walker, the Fitzgerald Brothers and the Koch Brothers overseeing it all.

[Rex]

4. At first I wanted to laugh and say no.

But the longer I think about it, the more I realise Americans are fucking dumb enough to put another GWB clone in office.

[Historic NY]

8. +1

[ladjf]

9. The American people elected Obama because they wanted

a Democratic President. He has turned not to be one. If he could be persuaded to step down, we could run a good candidate and win.

[kath]

17. +1000.

I really wish he would step down so we could run a real Democrat.

[Cyrano]

10. Yep, Rex. Bachmann's win in Iowa's straw poll makes one wonder how

many Americans are hopelessly dumb or incurably insane.

[Chemisse]

6. It could happen. I am really hoping that the spectre of such an outcome

will spur people to get out to the polls.

[judgegblue]

7. I certainly hope that a majority of repubs haven't lost their minds

However, we can't afford to ignore the possibility of such a disaster. I have been saying for a while that the Nazis were considered a fringe group in the beginning. Could it happen here? Of course when we make this analogy many write us off as hysterics.

[searchingforlight]

11. I'm with you. This scares the S--- out of me.

Now you are mixing political money with religious bat s--- money and that religious bat s--- is scarier than anything. A mandate from "the people" is one thing "a mandate from God" is beyond reason.

[no_hypocrisy]

12. They could if enough voters from *both* parties stay home in November, 2012.

Not enough democrats to re-elect Obama and not enough republicans to vote for a non-theological, non-Tea Party candidate.

[RagAss]

13. Maybe it needs to happen. Maybe that will force us to create "permanent change" .

[Cyrano]

15. If it does happen, it's possible that the only thing left to do would be

to sift through the ashes.

[WhiteTara]

14. Let's talk about how we can do something to

change the world instead of just speculating and complaining and promoting fear.

[Cyrano]

27. I'm with you WhiteTara. But "changing the world" is more easily said than done.

And bringing up the dangers that threaten us is not "promoting fear." It's recognizing reality.

[WhiteTara]

35. Bringing up the dangers, which we are all aware of

every minute of every day, focuses our attention and energy on the problem and not the solution. Mother Theresa when asked how she did what she did, replied. I stopped at the first person in front of me.

Take that fear and that fury and instead of telling us how terrible it might be, call your critter's offices, tell them instead how you want it to be. Then the energy is directed at them and even if they do nothing, they still have those words in their heads and they won't come out. If they hear them often enough from enough people, it changes the tide. I know it does. Letters are great too. If you want to write it out, do that, but send the words to the world, your local paper national paper comment sections. People read that.

But enough with the scare threads. They don't help.

[NNN0LHI]

16. Bush the Idiot once had a +90% approval rating

That should be enough right there to indicate that any of those rapture ready Republicans could very well be our next president.

Don

[Bluenorthwest]

31. That high approval was for the President, not the man who was

President, after a national tragedy. He was at 55% the week before the event, and left office at 30%. Those numbers are far more meaningful and less loaded. In late summer 2009, Obama was at 53-57% depending on who's talking.

[NNN0LHI]

32. Under the same circumstances the GOP base would NOT have approved of a Dem president

They would have been united screaming for his/her impeachment for allowing the attack to occur under his/her watch. There would have been no group of Dem and Republican politicians singing God Bless America on the capital steps.

And you know it. So I am not sure who you are trying to bullshit here? Me? Yourself? Who?

Don

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[waking wisconsin]

19. I laughed out loud when I was told W was running, I was SURE that person was joking

not so funny anymore

[Cyrano]

21. Perry is W with a God complex. It's deja vu all over again with the

Great Sky Wizard on the side of the lunatics.

[Frank Cannon]

28. I did the same when he ran for Governor of Texas against Ann Richards

I simply could not believe that someone who was obviously (to me, at least) a corrupt moron was being taken so seriously by so many. Imagine my chagrin 14 years later.

[Mr Deltoid]

22. If either won, we would start hearing 'end times' crap out of the WH

Particularly with global warming intensifying, they would attribute it to 'the devil' or 'the tribulation'.

Republicans are dangerous.

[subterranean]

23. I think it's very plausible.

Just look at who Americans voted into Congress in 2010.

Obama won't have the advantages that he had the last time around. Although he will be in a stronger fund-raising position as the incumbent, the republican candidate will also have ample corporate financial backing thanks to Citizens United. The "red" states that turned blue in 2008 will likely revert to red in 2012, no matter who the republican nominee is. I think it will be a very close race, and if voters don't perceive that the economy is improving, someone like Parry or Bachmann, heaven forbid, could win.

[Thinkingabout]

24. Let's hope this does not come to pass.

Bachmann still does not understand why dragging her feet on
the debt ceiling has been one of the major reasons for our
downgrade.  She is in over her head as a member of Congress. 
I would not like to have either of these canidates making the
final decision of the USA attacking another country.   We are
a country of citizens who should be voting and we should not
being on our knees to big corporations and interest groups. 

[RamboLiberal]

26. your scenario is correct electoral college scares crap out of me 2012

Enough purple states with R govs & SOS to redux 2000!

[RB TexLa]

30. She can't because she's a woman and is not able to get the GOP nomination.

[jimlup]

33. I agree with your analysis I would add

The American electorate seems to be disoriented. The political situation at the moment is extremely volatile and people are understandably confused. The media is not helping. The mainstream media seems stuck in a lean to the right by default and otherwise present both sides as "equal" in all things.

There is a reaction taking place. People don't want to believe that things are bad and the politicians don't want to tell them (lest they suffer Jimmy Carter syndrome.) They falsely blame Obama for the economic downturn - apparently the meme that the past administration is somehow blameless for everything (9/11 included) has stuck.

I'm very pessimistic about where we are headed. Obviously we have no choice but to stick with the adult for president (Obama). And we have to work to give congress as many democrats as possible.

[KOfan]

34. They elected a chimp..anything's possible

Don't put it past the bible thumpers and praying masses to follow Mr. frozen hair and his Bush-like manner. We cannot rest on the past. we must be vigilant and get out the vote!