Do you in your heart of hearts think that Bush can be defeated & removed?

[Bossy Monkey]

Note that I say both defeated AND removed, since we defeated him last time and see how much good that did us.

For my part, I'm starting to feel glimmers of hope. As ugly and repulsive is the situation in Iraq and Pentagon performance there, it's hard to imagine even the Mighty FoxNews Wurlitzer being able to sweep it all under the carpet by November. Similarly I don't see the SUVers forgiving $2+ gas prices that quickly. I know there's any number of October Surprises in the wings (Osama, miraculous drop in gas prices, faked up job numbers, etc), and that they control the voting machines, but I'm starting to believe just a little bit all the same. How 'bout you?

Kindly reply yes or no in the Subject line, then expand on your reply in the body of the message.

[Warpy]

1. If even half the country has an honest vote

Bush is gone. Finished. Lucky to get out alive.

If the voting has been seriously compromised, then he will need to be thrown out, and he will, probably by his own party.

[patrice]

2. Yes

I've never seen this level of grassroots response before, lots of new activity.

Timing is crucial, but I think Kerry has a good sense of that.

Worried about the October surprise though.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

3. Yes

The country is not so far gone that Bush will be able to retain power after his electoral defeat.

[slutticus]

4. Yes..

...I have to believe...otherwise I can't sleep at night.

Never in my life have I been so concerned about the direction the world has taken. When the action of one government can so drastically affect world stability (in a bad way).....well....I can't sleep at night.

[markses]

5. In my heart of hearts? No

Bush 52%
Kerry 48%

Sorry! I'll still work on it, though. I'm just not confident.

[Mountainman]

12. I can't see how Bush would ever get 52%

Only of there was massive voter fraud. Right now it is tied 45% to 45%. with 10% undecided and the majority of those will go to Kerry.

There would have to be some real good news that people give Bush credit for and I don't see that happening. Maybe another terrorist attack but even then I don't know if that would make people want Bush.

The only thing I think will stop Kerry is massive voter fraud or some action to stop the election from happening.

[Wind Dancer]

6. I hope but don't know!

If we have another terrorist attack, could he call Martial Law into place?

[LittleApple81]

7. I don't know anymore. This country is in a morass, with too many morans.nt

[Fla Dem]

8. In my heart of heats, more so everyday,

but then I'm a Red Sox fan, an eternal optimist.

[jjmalonejr]

17. I'm a Red Sox fan...

...AND I believe Kerry will beat Bush, too.

Good to know you, Fla Dem!

[Th1onein]

9. Absolutely.

[kaitykaity]

10. Yes.

I know they will do anything to win or steal it, but I also know
that many more people than me are starting to believe in the
absolute craven evil of these people.

In 2000, I was the wacknut :tinfoilhat: Bush hater. I'm becoming
more and more mainstream every day.

[salin]

11. yes.

[Atman]

13. YES -- He is already unelectable

That does not mean he doesn't have a plan in place to steal the office again. In my heart of hearts, yes, absolutely, he cannot win. That doesn't mean some other "trifecta" won't happen to keep him in place. The GOP has a LOT of money invested in this dope.

[Jim Warren]

14. YES!

More now than ever, I'm convinced bushco is done, and I'm the biggest skeptic I know.

bushco is in a quicksand of lies and deceit, the more they struggle, the deeper they get. Three years was all it took. (I know it seems like 9)

They are spending campaign money and getting little from it, instead they've been constantly on the defensive.

I think Kerry is doing the right thing. (Had my doubts earlier)
He holding back, being presidential, and he's always been a strong campaign finisher.

The bushco administration is a catastrophe and utter failure in every regard, and I am personally seeing this realization seep into the the larger population out there.

[argyl]

15. He's gone.The internet was once touted as beneficial for the wingnuts

but it's clear that we've made it OURS.Grassroots support is now,to a large extent,internet support,and our hundreds of thousands of donations of small amounts are stacking up nicely against the GOP's bloated war chest.
Check out the online polls;it's almost always Kerry over Bush by two to one.We're not having to unfreep many polls now.
We're also polling ahead in traditional polls. As of Jan.21st Kerry staffers will be wondering what happened to the Js,Fs,and Ks on the White House keyboards.

[Bossy Monkey]

26. Were this true, I think the nominee would be named Howard Dean

but I like the way you're thinking all the same!:)

[lapauvre]

73. If we can save America

Howard Dean deserves the credit.

While some may think what Howard Dean spread was manure, it was indeed fertilizer to the dead and dying grass roots. I, depressed to the point of suicide, came alive because of Howard Dean. I found hope in the grass roots of America. Even if we fail to save America, the best attempt at saving America came from Howard Dean.

I will say this: Not one democrat, not one liberal, not one free American, not one tolerant American, not one thinking American, not one previously cowed, insulted, demeaned, American can do anything but vote for Kerry. And not one of them should do less than take a damned good look at their US senators and representatives. nor should they take less than a damned good look at their local State representatives and senate. Not their school boards, not their Chambers of Commerce, not their sheriff's, their judges, or their dog catchers.

Whatever the current bull crap the republicans are screaming about freedom from taxes and regulations, both of these screaming points are selfish and irresponsible to all other Americans.

Our current congress, both republican and democrat, are swayed by money. One, more than the other, hype their Christianity and holiness. Greed is not a holy thing. Irresponsibility on earth is not a holy thing. Caring more about corporations than individual human lives falls to the republicans and it it not a holy thing. Human life, the value of the individual, now belongs exclusively to those disdained and profaned as "liberals." Now an epithet.

Howard Dean could never say it quite like I do, because he was running for President. I am not running for anything, except, perhaps, my life and the lives and freedom of my un-brainwashed children, one of whom is a republican.

If you have never worked before to get out the vote, get it out now!
If you think you can claim "independent" status and be a mugwump, then YOU will have to deal with the consequences. If you think giving Nader a vote will send a message, it won't.

I would not have chosen Kerry. I would have chosen Dean, or even Kucinnich. But we can't afford to permit this monstrous destruction of America to continue.

And, yes, I await the men in black.

Vote! Get out the vote! I live in a Republican controlled State, and am looking for elsewhere, but I am old. I do not matter too much.
I can't go door to door anymore, and I can be cowed into silence through fear (one of the definitions of terrorism). So, I apologize to you for asking those of you able to do what I cannot do to PLEASE do it.

Please do realize the importance of this election. If we even have the election. National Emergency and Executive Orders and Martial Law can stop elections.

[hippiegranny]

16. yes - definitely defeated

removed? another story altogether, isn't it? i think if the response to the election is overwhelming in Kerry's favor, the only way the Bush mafia can keep the power would be through a MILITARY type coup.

[Zookeeper]

18. Yes.

Bushie's core group of supporters are in stubborn mode and are more defensive by the day. There is no way the Fundies will abandon him. However, I think reasonable Repubs are becoming disgusted with him and losing patience. Bush has been the "Special Needs President," and too many people have been amused and tolerant of his gaffes and lack of intelligence. Now that Shrub's incompetence has us in a major mess, I think he's toast.

[H2O Man]

19. Yes.

It is happening now.

[duvinnie]

20. no

I pray that we as a country are strong for the times ahead.

[Jacobin]

21. Yes, but its going to be a brawl

I live in the deepest deep south.

Country club republicans are abandoning him in DROVES. They won't vote for Kerry. They won't vote at all.

The wheels have come off of IraqNam. It will be an open and complete disaster and bloodbath by November.

I think Kerry can pull it off. The disgust of middle americans is overwhelming.

Forget the Freepers. They will never change. Fortunately, they are not the swing voters.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

58. Maybe if you gave them this to read:

[i_c_a_White_Ghost]

22. Yes

Can be.

Will he? I'm not so sure yet!

I think we as (du'ers) have much more information than say your average American who can be suckered up by a lollipop.

But I do give Americans credit for not buying into "every things well in America" yet. The jobs are not back yet (good jobs). The direction of the country (In my heart of hearts) is not going in the right direction. That will be the key.

[troublemaker]

23. Yes. The Army will quash any coup attempt

The Bush bubble is a momentum play. Once the madness starts to slow it implodes. By election day there probably won't be many people who will admit they voted for him the first time.

Stalin famously said, "how many divisions does the pope have?" Bush has to ask, "How many divisions does the US Army have?" ("No, really... how many?)

Bush really fucked up when he alienated the Army. Any coup attempt following an electoral defeat will be dealt with by the Pentagon. (The Air Force has been a lunatic outfit for ages, but the Army can put boots on the ground in DC)

[i_c_a_White_Ghost]

25. Dumb Question but why is the Army so pissed at Shrub?

[troublemaker]

52. Rumsfeld has pissed on them an theirs'

The whole new Rumsfeld military thing is that armies themselves are obsolete. (There's some truth to that, but he goes too far.)

***Never threaten someone's appropriations in Washington!***

Make a list of every retired military person you've seen on TV (or seeking the Democratic nomination) saying something bad about Bush or Rumsfeld and you'll notice they're pretty much all ARMY guys. (They like Colin Powell because he was an army guy.)

Also, the army is the most egalitarian service and probably the most liberal. (I don't know the figures, but I'm guessing the army has a higher proportion of minorities than USAF and USN)

[Arianrhod]

76. Looks to me like you've never been in the service,

because you don't seem to know what it's about. The Army is "liberal"? Please. I shouldn't be laughing that hard with a cup of coffee in my hand.

The Army is by far the most rigid, conservative, micromanaging branch of the service. I served for years in a joint command. Halfway through my tour it changed from an Air Force-run organization to an Army one. Everything immediately went to shit. I've never seen a group of more dedicated self-servers than those Army commanders I worked under there--from the captains to the colonels.

It isn't the Air Force running Abu Ghraib.

[Arianrhod]

75. The Army will no more do that

than the NRA will lead a bunch of militia guys in a storm on Washington.

Yes, there are some disgruntled officers. There were a hell of a lot more under Clinton. But these guys are careerists--and by that I don't mean "military career". They ALWAYS have their eye on the real prize: That luxurious corporate position they will land after they retire. The very way they make rank pushes them in this direction, because in order to make general they have to be fully esconced in the whole military-industrial complex. The ones currently in power, by and large, didn't pin on their stars for bravery in battle, but for their ability to suck up to Congress.

And even if they did pull a coup: Do you REALLY want a military takeover of the country? Do you REALLY think these guys are on "our" side, intent on building a world in which there are no classes, women are equal, the environment is protected, the social infrastructure supports the poor? Only in your dreams, friend.

I for one hope deeply that things never come down to a need for the military to "protect" me.

[Mr.Green93]

24. Absofinglutly

[TheFarseer]

27. Yes, but to be perfectly honest

I think Bush will win by a slightly larger margin than last time. I'm hopeful that Kerry can win but we are up against some heavy hitters here.

edited to answer the question with a hesitant "yes"

[SammyWinstonJack]

41. Slightly larger margin than last time?

"I think Bush will win by a slightly larger margin than last time."

You're kidding right? * didn't win last time. Gore got 540,000 more votes then *. Unless you mean a slightly larger margin then 5-4. :eyes:

[TheFarseer]

51. I meant electoral votes

the only votes that count

[drb]

28. Do you know anybody that voted for Gore last time...

...that will vote for Your Boy George this time?

There are only three ways he can stay in office:

1. By brute military force, only I don't think the military would back him up on the deal.

2. By staging another "terrist" attack and "postponing" the elections. Note that he might well try to take out congress as well, or attack the Democratic convention...

3. By using the "Diebold Correction Factor."

[gristy]

29. No I don't know anyone

.who. voted for Gore last time .who. will vote for Bush this time.

[TheFarseer]

31. Dennis Miller

and all those other dopes that are all, "He stood up for our country." "He wasn't afraid to fight the terrorists" but I understand your point, there are alot more people that used to like him that don't now, than vice versa.

[LittleApple81]

50. Did you hear Olbermann yesterday with the LeftSide Shrinking brain case?

A guy whose brain is shrinking but only the left side. Olbermann said that it had not been seen before... and then corrected himself and said "except in Dennis Miller's case."

[Wind Dancer]

56. Way to go Keith!

He amazes me everyday!

[k in IA]

61. I love that show. He is great. I love it when he goes after Faux.

and

Hell, yes, Kerry is going to win.

[salin]

66. Don't know a single person who falls into that category.

[Window]

30. YES!!

YES! YES! YES! YES!

[Ardee]

32. Can he be defeated,YES, Will he be defeated....errr maybe

The only person who can defeat George W. Bush is, sadly, George W. Bush.

The campaign of John Kerry is replete with cowardice and far to much similarity and common ground with Bush. Running on polling data and on blunted message that serve to appease corporate donors and neocons in the party fails to either excite or energise the voting public.

Far too many folks are going to stay home out of disgust with the absence of real opposition to Bush, far too many are going to believe the continual lies and distortions of this administration because they are simply being given NO alternative and that sucks! Polls show plainly that over 50% of the american public STILL believe Hussein had something to do with the events of 9/11,why ? You know damn well why, because your DLC led party is a bunch of craven cowards and sell out artists thats why.

[Null Pointer]

33. No.

I don't think Kerry will be able to overcome the jerrymandering that will occur in Ohio (Diebold) and Florida (voter purges, roadblocks, etc.). We will know very, very early on Election night if Kerry's going to win... Ohio goes blue.

Sadly, I don't think it'll happen.

[SarahB]

34. As long as the fraud stays minimal

Unfortunately, I don't put anything past these people to remain in power. Kerry will be slandered obviously in some way, but most frighteningly- a Code Red situation taking place to put a halt to the elections. If something like that happened and everyone just kept on blindly going, I'd try to leave the country since obviously some pretty dangerous times could be headed our way.

[proud patriot]

35. Oh Yeah !

of course:hi:

[cally]

36. Yes!!

I think it will be a 60-40 Kerry win. I don't see it as close by the time of election. I see Dems united, angry, motivated, and working hard. I've never seen Dems volunteering and donating like this. Dems will get the vote out!

[mumon]

37. Yes

I think the sonofabitch is toast.

[Arianrhod]

77. He may be toast

but he holds all the cards.

What other president in history could weather all the scandals this one has for the last 4 years, and still pull 50% in the polls?

I don't trust this administration for a single solitary second. They will pull out all the stops, because they cannot afford to lose. We must keep in mind that they are playing for all the stakes--not just their own future, but, IMO, that of the Republican Party itself. I'm convinced that, with a suitable taking down of *, the entire organization would go with him. The Freepers believe that, too. Which is what makes them so dangerous.

The Republican Party has become a pack of cornered, frothing dogs, and if Kerry continues to play "politics as usual" with them, he will be torn to shreds.

[newsguyatl]

38. you bet i do.

[baldguy]

39. Yes.

Either by us at the polls this November.

Or by an Allied military invasion - with UN backing - a few years from now.

[onecitizen]

40. Absolutely!!

And he will!!

[nicktom]

42. Yes

In my 49 years on this earth, nothing has drawn my attention to politics the way this administration has. These people are deranged. I have to believe that the vast majority of Americans, at least those paying attention feel the same way. I really miss Bill Clinton after seeing his speech today at the University of Kansas. We need a positive leader. I am sick of war, terror, and the death of innocents.

[Zookeeper]

49. Hi Nicktom....

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[DoNotRefill]

43. No...

I think Kerry has damaged himself irreparably through a wide variety of EXTREMELY stupid actions which have "riled up" the anti-Kerry folks in some cases, while alienating a large part of his base in others. WTF was he thinking when he voted for the IWR, and said he'd appoint pro-life judges?!?!? D'oh!!!!!

This election could have been won, but barring some future catastrophe directly caused by Bush, coupled with Nader being driven completely out of the race, I don't think it'll happen now. It's a forlorn hope.

:(

[spanone]

44. Yep, Sure Do, Uh huh, you know it , right on. yes. si.

[TNMOM]

45. YES.

The tide is turning. Even Repugs friends admit Bushit is a sorry excuse for leadership.

[moof]

46. You can't win in a game that is rigged.

As you pointed out Gore got the most votes in 2000.
There is little doubt that Max Cleland got the most votes in Georgia.

Since the language has yet to coin new words to describe what is going on in Nov. every two years it is difficult to speak about this topic.

Even though there has not ever been a true democratic election since anyone here has been alive, there was such a sharp turn away from what was refered to as an election in 2000 that the following terms no longer have any value in discussion about what is going on in America now.

election, vote, president, elect, defeat, nominate, polls, polling,
and many others too numerous to mention.

Looking ahead into a somewhat cloudy crystal ball the fear is it will happen something like this,

In the weeks leading up to the " election " all the polls and the media will begin to report that election is increasingly becoming too close to call.

Many BBV machines will have printers hooked to them to reassure smoe and make it so no one can dispute that their vote on the paper is what they registered on their touch screen. This of course has no connection with the how the totals will be recorded on it's memory chip.

BBV will be quelled by the media reassuring the public that the problems have been taken care of and printers will print out whatever the people stealing the votes want them to say while still registering the votes properly to show a slight victory for bush.

Just imagine the same happenong this Nov. that happened in Nov. 2000 with the exception that when Fla. comes in narrowly for bush it won't be quite as narrow and there won't be any loose ends or slinging chads to argue about.

[yella_dawg]

47. Bush was defeated last time and look what happened...

Now he's had four years to strengthen his position and (gag) gain "legitimacy". Nothing will oust that bastard but civil insurrection.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

48. In my heart of hearts...

-- make that my intuitive gut -- I feel Bush (or Cheney without him) may very well "win" by way of some sort of manipulation before or during the election.

I've had a very bad feeling for a really long time and, the more I see of this administration, the more I am convinced they will not let go of power without taking drastic steps that may make what's gone on before to look like a tea party.

I'm hoping/praying/begging that I am wrong...

[troublemaker]

53. Question: In 1994 did you think Clinton would be reelected?

I had my doubts until the govt shut-down. (Then it was clear sailing... the fools)

Taught me a lesson about how fast this country can whipsaw. Bush can play games if it's close but I don't think this will be close.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

57. Yes, the electorate can whipsaw...

but I'm not talking about them, I am talking about what Cheney & Co. will do to maintain power.

The last election showed that American wanted Gore as president -- and that's a fact.

This election may show that America would have wanted Kerry as president -- and we STILL may have GW Bush as president.

After 12+ years of waiting, Cheney & Co. have their hands on the power they have been working towards so desperately. BBV, pre-election terrorist attack, Osama October surprise -- take your pick, Cheney & Co. WILL try something underhanded to save this election for themselves.

And what the people want, may not make a lick of difference.

And as for Clinton's reelection -- I was sure he would be. No doubt about it.

[Arianrhod]

78. You are naive if you think 2004 is like 1994. n/t

[Straight Shooter]

54. Yes. Absolutely yes.

I think the Universe has punished us enough.

[mountainvue]

55. Yes.

Absolutley. They might be able to get away with it once but I don't think the people will let them get away with it twice.

[Bossy Monkey]

59. 2002 worries me more than 2000

I was sure we were going to gain seats, 'cause the misadministration was already manifestly a miserable failure and the economy was going less than nowhere. Instead 9/11 whiplash put the dimwits in an even stronger position. I'm scared that our idiot fellow voters might kneejerk vote Republican again for "Homeland Security," or that enough of them will that the Diebold shavers will be able to fake a victory credibly as mentioned often above. But as I say, I'm starting to believe. Every time I see Kerry smile, I believe a little more.

[Hippo_Tron]

72. 2002 was just plain stupid on our part...

2002 was basically a big red flag for Gephardt and Daschle. They could've won back congress and Bush would've been able to do about a fraction of the damage he has done so far. But of course they let the Republicans smack them around and they lost seats. It's a wonder that Mary Landrieu actually held onto her seat, cause the GOP were mainly focused on her and Max Cleland.

[osaMABUSh]

60. YES

I think people are actually waking up. The lies and mistakes are coming too fast and furiuos for any Administration to survive.

[markomalley]

62. No.

I do not think that he will go. I think that he is working through the NSA and the military information operations people to ensure that the BBV machines will be rigged and fixed to ensure he has a favorable outcome and will appear to win by a slim but defenseable margin in sufficient states for him to win the electoral college. I also don't think, unless an honest IO soldier comes forward, that there will be any way we can prove this becuase there won't be a paper trail.

[DustMolecule]

69. What's an IO soldier?

unless an honest IO soldier comes forward, that there will be any way we can prove this becuase there won't be a paper trail.

It's probably obvious, but I don't understand.

[Bossy Monkey]

74. I'm guessing Intelligence Officer, but it's just a guess n/t

[markomalley]

91. Information Operations

there are two types of IO, defensive and offensive
- defensive tries to protect computer networks etc from attack
- offensive are the professional hackers, propagandists, tactical deception types, etc.

(you can google information operations JTF-CNO, JTF-CND, etc.)

[rocktop15]

63. HELL YES.

I see a ton of mass movement everyday.

At my former private Christian VERY conservative highschool, the economics teacher told the students that even she was considering voting for Kerry.

[Rowdyboy]

64. Yes, I believe it is still possible

I don't think it will be possible to beat them in 2008 or after though. With 4 more years to consolidate their takeover of federal agencies and the courts, the America I grew up in will be only a distant, sweet memory.

Honest to God, I truly believe it is now or never.

[Eye and Monkey]

65. Well, c'mon folks, let's all get on the bus!

[DEMVET-USMC]

67. He set himself up as WAR PRESIDENT and has proven to be a total

failure as such and a chickenhawk to boot. ...Oscar

[genius]

68. Maybe. But I don't know if the Dems are up to the challenge.

He'll cheat and steal the election and I think the Dems and Kerry are just going to watch like helpless children and then they'll congratulate him and back him.

[lapauvre]

70. I doubt I am saying anything other than what has been already posted

As Bugs Bunny used to say, "that's all, folks"

We win it now, or we lose America, as we believe in it, forever.

Wouldn't be the first time, historically that a civilization or culture has been lost and distorted with revisionist history.

Okay. I am an idealist, a believer in the goodness and greatness of America. We Americans have done so much, so very much, for equality, for tolerance, for appreciation and exploitation and enjoyment of diversity. It took us a while, but we DID it.

We can be proud of that.

Sweatshops were forbidden. Slavery was destroyed, at the cost of many, many American lives. Females ceased to be chattels. Children were not consigned to work their young lives away in servitude as minimally paid slaves. Females got the right to vote. The KKK was outlawed (even though it still exists.) Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream and it was superficially realized. The Irish made their way from servitude to success. The Italians made their way from despicable to respectable. Elderly females were no longer burned at the emotive behest of young religious zealots. Restrictions on Jewish occupancy of land was banned. Black people became professors, and teachers, and elected representatives.

The rights of the accused criminals became protected, to the ticking off of those criminalized, under the heading of better that a hundred go guilty than one innocent man serve time or be executed.

WWII was won (and it was the last war we actually WON) without the words "under God" contained within it. And prayer in school was voluntary and heartfelt. I am old, so I am talking about from my schooldays, back in 1939. But we were not compelled to say "under God." WE WON that war.

All of this was done because the American people, believed in justice, whatever party.

The entire world respected us once upon a time. We respected and trusted our government, once upon a time.

This is part one to this very provocative post.

[DustMolecule]

83. I, for one, look forward to reading Part II (and beyond?)

thank you for a beautiful post! Thank you for sharing that your (these) sentiments are not 'youthful' idealogy....it's something from the 'best of the past, which must be revived, understood and embraced. (gee, that sounds so d*mn stiff, but I don't know how else to say it!) You said a WHOLE lot! :-)

[Bossy Monkey]

95. It's up there, at #73

Hopefully the link will work: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=1642718&mesg_id=1644772&page=

[FDRrocks]

71. Yes

He sucks. I rarely ever meet anyone that doesn't think so. He's toast in November.

[Zinfandel]

79. No. As I keep repeating...

What's to stop the fascist from stealing this
election?

I keep saying it with all my disdain and hope to the contrary...

However, please explain to me, if BushCo steals the election (BBV) what can WE do, what will we do...they are now in power and won't relinquish it because of some "silly" election.

They hold the power...they have the presidency, the Senate, the Congress, the Attorney General, the US Supreme Court and control the military.

We did nothing in 2000, they now know we can't and won't do anything this time...once they steal it again, they are in..just as last time, how can we kick them out?

The republican owned corporate media will of course make it look like there's some real investigation into it, but they will distort and right-winger after right-winger debating and clouding the issue to the American people. Proof just watch the news and watch how Rove controls it.

Most will then just throw up their hands and believe what their media source tells them...As long as their life is not immediately affected.

We did NOTHING last time, what will we do this time.

The corporate structure as it is now is running our lives and is true fascism and they won't leave because of some election...but they will make it look close to confuse the masses.

Please give me some answers and some hope...

[Lorien]

81. No. What Zinfandel said.

That won't stop me from fighting for Kerry, but I don't see many reasons for hope since BBV is hardly a concern among the masses.

[Zinfandel]

86. No I haven't given up...but no one has given me any answers to my above

question.

I will fight and donate my time, money, heart and soul to this election, (Kerry).

There's nothing more important or seems more far grasping.

:cry:

[Karenina]

87. YES, the immediate effects on Americans

are increasingly visible. Been seeing kids with missing limbs at the malls? Needed a prescription lately? Does the barbaric behaviour of your *MIC offend your core values? Taken a BIG cut in pay? Has life begun to make NO SENSE WHATEVER?

It's the *puppetmeisters who must be removed. They CAN be excised, the question is only what it will take. They have not and will not let a little thing like an election stop them and are quite willing to inflict untold violence upon anyone. Hmmmm...

[fujiyama]

80. No

I really think the people in power right now will do ANYTHING to keep that power.

Jeb is already making Florida more unwinnable. I fear that Diebold, Nader, and an October Surprise will "win" this for them.

I know that few like Bush though. It's unprecedented the feelings he elicits from people. If this were a fair game, Kerry would win -- either way I believe he'll win the popular vote (barring that October surprise).

[thedonkeyhead]

82. NO.

Bush will win.

[Puglover]

98. Dammit Donkeyhead

I'm SO sorry to be too late to say goodbye!

[MsMagnificent]

84. MAYBE

Well, I only have ONE heart... but personally, and perhaps, scarily, I'm getting to the point of maybe having to wear a tinfoil hat ;/
but I'm half convinced that Bush will steal the election anyhow.

What with all these easily & untraceably hacked election machines (not to mention the old-style, poorly designed ones!),
what with the pure unassailable facts that he has ALL the psychopathic tendencies to do WHATEVER it takes to win!

The words "ethics" and "responsibility", although bandied about by him & his minions in public, are NOT in his own, personal vocabulary!

and he has ALL THE CORRUPTION and ALL THE POWER to manipulate, on a nationwide level, these election results!

Oh no no -- it is FAR from beyond him!

HOW could we actually KNOW FOR SURE??

At least in this point in time, and that is what is MOST important!

If anyone DARED to publish that he did indeed rig the election, you know instantaneous Republican pit-bull attacks would appear crying how ridiculous it would be (although in truth not ridiculous at all) and *especially* with the bad history, palaver and LIES concerning the Gore fight for recount it would be discounted even more... and, IMO at least, the Democrats have not even been able to halfway APPROACH this Repuke lying fire with our own indignant yet justified fire (or at least come even close to debunking their spew! We're too fucking HONEST and TRULY compassionate for God's sake! Pardon the language, but this surely deserves that word!)--

What with Bush's huge propaganda machine;
his rabid, sycophantic, toadying, BLIND followers;
his well-stocked Conservative Supreme Court judges,
and his VAST and national media control?

WHAT would stop him?
What COULD stop him??

The truth may come out in the future but it does VERY little for us NOW-- and I am becoming truly afraid.

Are these fears unfounded? Can somebody PLEASE
--but TRUTHFULLY!--
reassure me?

Please? Pretty, pretty please???


(Sorry for all the caps -- trying to implement the pseudo-html codes here but not working very well & I'm rather new, so caps it'll have to be for a while. Forgive ;)

*edited to put answer from "Yes, No or Maybe" in subject line.

[Bossy Monkey]

93. It helps a bit that the press hates him

Remember that all the right really control are Fox News and ClearChannel. Other media are going along with the maladministration because the bosses are afraid to lose access. However, it doesn't take big arithmetic skills to figure that if the ship's going down, losing access is no longer much of a worry. Thus it's possible (the HTML lookup table is your friend) that the news logjam may break and that the media generally might throw Dubya down, which would have the extra benefit of pointing up even more clearly that Fox and the talk radio drones are getting their paychecks and marching orders straight from the RNC. The way he ridicules, belittles or just ignores the working press every day might come back and bite him in the ass, and you know, it couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

Welcome to DU, by the way.

[MsMagnificent]

103. No, he's got more than that - NYT for one

and MANY other media outlets are simply afraid to print anything about him. Strangely, the one paper that prints more of the truth about him than anyone else is the Washington Post, a conservative-leaning daily!

Thank you for the welcome! :)

[Kipepeo]

85. yes and no

I think he can be legitimately defeated (it's already happened once) but I don't think he can be removed. I don't trust him or anyone around him, including Diebold.

[aquart]

88. Mama read me a letter from the local paper

Written by an arch conservative son of a bitch who stopped talking to his neighbor's son when the boy grew his hair long. This man was a force for bigotry and obstruction in our community for decades.

His letter to the editor was a diatribe against Bush, the Iraq War, and Bush flying out the Saudis right after 9/11.

I think my Mama's gonna frame it.

[MsMagnificent]

89. and don't forget...

...the polls are EXTREMELY close even now with all these horrific scandals!

I give 90% + odds that Osama will be "captured" just in time for the election.

What happens then? Bush's previous pecadillos are forgotten and his approval rating will go, again, sky-high.

Note that for some time now any statement from Bin Laden has been audio, yet significantly no visual.
Why is that I wonder? Could it possibly be that he's held in Gitmo or some other nefarious (& illegal!) US prison? That if there was video he could somehow signal that he's imprisoned & under American capture and duress?

So what if he were wounded?! To much of the Arab world it would be a point of rejoicing and a sign of his individual blessing from his Allah that the "infidels" could wound him yet not kill him!

What other explanation COULD it be?
I sure can't think of any!

[Piperay]

90. No...

I am scared that he will manage to have all this stuff slid off of him, the way it usually does. IF the scandal continues to be BIG news the way it is now I believe we can beat the repukes but that is still a big IF. I want to believe but I am too scared of being disappointed again to allow myself to really believe. :shrug: :-(

[opihimoimoi]

92. TOAST..... He is TOAST!!!! Too many, much too many anchors on his neck

Most of all, the anchor of Poor Leadership/Ineptness/No Vision

The Evidence speaks volumes.

[Zinfandel]

96. Yeah, but what about my question???

[MsMagnificent]

102. his followers think he's

the GREATEST communicatot
the GREATEST visionary
the GREATEST PRESIDENT OF ALL TIME!

--and don't forget, they are a quite hefty number!

He's evil,
he's a sociopath
he'll do ANYTHING to get his way

and he has the power to 'fix' the election

I'm not hopeful :(

[MrBenchley]

94. Yes

Although I bet he pardons himself and a bunch of others on his way out the door....

[Lindsey]

97. Yes - I have to believe it for my sanity

Four Republican with whom I work (in Orange County) have turned this week. That's a little indication. They are necessarily voiting for Kerry but they DEFINITELY aren't voting for Bush. However, there are so many thngs that can happen both for and against.

[Kazak]

99. Yes.

Of course that doesn't mean he will be.

[waywest]

100. yes

I hope for a crushing defeat, and I'm working for ANY defeat.

[mvd]

101. Yes

I think they'll have to give up power, unless the military really is in lock and step (small chance of that.) But I'm sure they'll try as many dirty tricks as they can. They think they are entitled to the Presidency. We have to be very watchful.