Why didn't we start up a "parallel government" when * was appointed?

[Nutmegger]

I'm reading the events happening right now in Mexico and people are really banding together to send a clear message: voter/election fraud will not be tolerated. Olbrador is even going to select members for his cabinet and hold a mock inauguration on November 20th.

Why wasn't something like this done in 2000? We need backbone not spinelessness.

[Skidmore]

1. Because we stood by stunned by the idea that something so

"third world" and "banana republic" could happen here. We assumed that our system's safeguards were strong and that the courts were unbiased institutions with the interests of the people foremost in their priorities. We then bought the old saw that we are a nation of laws not men. We never believed that there were men who considered themselves to be above the law anywhere but our prisons, and who would wield power ruthlessly by flaunting the law.

We were stupid, venal, and myopic as a nation.

[William769]

4. Very well said.

[liberaldemocrat7]

20. If you paralyze GOP contributors you paralyze the government.

.

[Buzz Clik]

2. Because it's illegal? And a really horrible idea?

[Annces]

3. Where is the spirit of rebellion

I don't see it in our politicians except Kucinich.

[William769]

5. rebellion starts with the people.

[enigma000]

6. Because it would be dangerous and look insane n/t

on edit:

Because half the population thought Bush was trying to steal the election and the other half thought Gore was trying to steal it. And this sort of thing can fracture a country. Look at places where people placed their own welfare above the common good, Latin America for example. France is on its 5th republic since the Revolution. Al Gore was not willing to damage the US by subverting the constitution, regardless if he believed he won.

The US is one of the oldest countries in the world, the oldest democracy, and, I think, one republic that really works. This is from the strength of character of its leaders. Leaders who place their country's interests ahead of their own, each and every time.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

11. Eh?

I'm assuming this was a mistake:

The US is one of the oldest countries in the world

[enigma000]

15. Sure

How many (existing) countries are older? Latin America dates from the 1810s, Germany and Italy the 1860s. Eastern Europe from the 1920s. Africa from the 1950s and 1960s. The US is old by comparison.

[Jade Fox]

7. Funny, I was thinking that we are sort of doing that now....

Bush is taken less and less seriously all the time by anyone, although this last week has changed that some with him going on the offensive. But otherwise he seems quite impotent at this point.

[Demeter]

8. Because This Way Bush & Cheney & Co Have Enough Rope To Hang

themselves and all their enablers, cronies, and co-conspirators---literally!

And this time, we must see that they do. No pardons, no cushy Club Fed sentences, and no religious redemptions. No rehabilitations. For none of the truly culpable.

[murray hill farm]

9. Because we are a soft and spoiled and lazy people here..

because we only care about how it will effect us in our every day mcmansion...and because we just do not have the passion about anything enough to take any stand at all that might rock the boat. So, we do nothing. Maybe we debate and complain because we believe we have tooooooo much to loose to rock the cushy life style we believe we cannot do without. But that is it! So, essentially we do nothing. In Mexico, millions of people who live from day to day without so much of the things we think of as essential, there is not so much to be afraid of losing....and there is a passion that is growing and growing. We do not have that passion...so, we just took it and hoped for the best. It will happen again this fall...and we will just take it.

[msongs]

10. NOT illegal! England has a shadow government. All there is to it is

the opposition party (you know, the one that is supposed to OPPOSE the party in power) has a shadow secretary of interior, unofficial secretary of defense, etc etc.

they are not official. they are the go-to person on that issue and represent the views of the larger party in opposition. They do not pretend to have actual authority.

the problem in the US is that there is NO EFFECTIVE opposition party. and by that I mean a party that effectively unites in favor of its own declared values and stands up for what it claims to believe on a daily basis instead of caving in to the party in power.

it is often said that bush is full of crap but at least you know what crap it is. cannot say the same of the alleged opposition.

msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[Nutmegger]

13. I don't know why folks are playing the "illegal" card.

I didn't think it is.

A shadow government is a "government-in-waiting" that remains in waiting with the intent to take control of the government in response to some event.

In parliamentary governments, it is common for the opposition party to have a shadow government in which top leaders of the opposition are prepared to assume certain ministries should the opposition come to power.

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

[Bill McBlueState]

16. exactly, it's a common feature in parlaimentary systems

The US isn't a parliamentary system, but it would be interesting for the minority party to designate informal point people corresponding to each of the cabinet positions.

[Jed Dilligan]

14. Yeah, why's it more illegal

than a model United Nations, or Dungeons and Dragons for that matter?

[Cleita]

12. As a whole because we are too fat and rich.

Those of us who are down on our luck, homeless, or underemployed don't have any power to do something like this alone.

Those of us who are doing all right don't have any interest in making change until the time comes that we are affected. That time doesn't seem to have happened yet.

[bryant69]

17. The stakes were not clear

Obviously if september 11th hadn't happened President Bush would likely have been a 1 term loser - it was only September 11th that saved him.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Nutmegger]

18. KICK

for more responses. :kick:

[Hippo_Tron]

19. Nobody had a clue how bad shrub would be

After Bush was selected we thought that he would be an insignificant 1 term President that ensure Democratic landslides in 2002 and 2004. When Jeffords switched parties and gave the Democrats control of the Senate it was looking even less likely that he would be able to do anything of any significance. God were we wrong...

[rman]

21. Generations of oppression makes for vigilance and resilience,

while bread, games and propaganda have made us drowsy and apathetic.

[FrenchieCat]

22. I wondered that back then too.....especially when I saw

Bush and his cabinet smugly sitting in front of the cameras.....in November of 2000 before the election was called by our Supreme assholes!

In the meantime, Gore was ????? (don't ask me, cause I don't know).