How about this scenario?

[kevin881]

Kerry wins electoral college, Bush wins popular vote (only due to overwhelming support in deep red states).

During his lame-duckness, he engineers another terrorist event and subsequently says the country is in a state of emergency, needing his continued leadership.

Electoral deligates are not allowed to officially name Kerry president-elect, and Bush sends the military into the streets to deal with the "state of emergency."

We are now under martial law. And Bush is the dictator.

[KC21304]

1. So what's new ? Bush is already the dictator and we have

martial law, every now and again.

[speedoo]

2. No joke.

Giuliani already tried step 1 after 9/11. Fortunately, he did not have the US Military under his control, so even if he wanted to he could not have carried out the rest of your scenario.

[many a good man]

3. All they have to do is prevent the electors

from presenting their state's electoral votes to the President of the Senate Cheney in December. That little ceremony MUST take place for the election to become legal. Its the same ceremony shown in F911.

If it wanted to, the Senate could choose NOT to accept one or more states' slate of electors. And the electoral college result, even without the votes of some states, would still stand. Of course, the Supreme Court could choose to hear a challenge. Or it could choose not to hear a challenge...

BTW few people realize that these electors can cast their ballots any way they wish; they don't have to abide by the wishes of the popular vote or even the state legislature. Its happened before and it can happen again. Didn't I just hear a story about some state elector who announced that he will cast his vote for Kerry no matter how his state goes?

Its interesting that this system was designed specifically to allow all these things to happen. The Founding Fathers equally feared both the Vox Populi AND the monied interests. I guess its fair to say: two can play this game!