What will you do if the election is lost or stolen?

[fujiyama]

Will you keep up the fight? Will you leave the country? Will you keep an active interest in politics?

I think I'll stop paying attention to politics for a while, finish college, and seriously look to see if I can find a job outside of the US. Even if it was in the US, I'd probably live away from many people for a while as well because I would know that a plurality of people supported this administration enough to keep them in power...I wouldn't be living in a cabin with no electricity or anything like that, but I think I would lose interest in anything news or politically related for a while. Following the inaugaration I really had stopped watching the news and paying all attention for about two-three months.

Maybe eventually I'd feel the spirit to fight, but I wouldn't have be in the mood right away.

[KG]

1. take the easy way out - blame it on nader.

and harrass nader voters on politcal forums for the next 4 years :eyes:

[Djinn]

3. Quick it's another DU "Bush enabler"

joking! :evilgrin:

I'd start wondering how quickly John Howard can announce our election (don't have fixed terms here the incumbent govt gets to pick the date of the election - within certain time limits) it was expected that it would have been called by now but seem the Libs are getting a bit nervous - if BUsh gets back in then Howard can trot out the "we can work with the US better than them" line and the sheep here will swallow it.

Hoping for all our sakes neither of these things happen

[union_maid]

2. Well, there'll be a period of real grief

Then we better get organized and harness all our angst into movements around specific issues. Of course, leaving the country is probably a fine plan if you can manage it. If you can't, we're going to have to fight because there has never been more at stake.

[ContraBass Black]

4. I will fight on until the ideals of liberty and justice are no more.

And then I'll head for Toronto.

[LibraLabSoldier]

27. Do what the Constitution, Bill of rights, and Declaration of Independance.

say to do. Take up arms, and overthrow the corrupt government, replacing it with a just republic. Aincha glad some people are Second Amendmant supporters?

[Fire Bush]

30. I hear ya!

Unfortunatly those words were written at a time when no one could imagine the kind of weapons our government would have at it's disposal. That's a war we would have no chance of winning.

[fujiyama]

53. I've really changed my mind on that issue

(gun control). I used to be in favor of it, but over the last several years I realized that I wouldn't be comfortable with only criminals and fascists having the guns.

[LibraLabSoldier]

66. That is a good thing....

More and more people who have never owned guns before are arming and protecting themselves. It makes me feel safer knowing that my fellow Americans are not comfortable being victims anymore.

[cidliz2004]

5. Hold onto your seats

because if that happens, remember farenheit9/11?, well the 1st inaguration of w will look like a "love in".

I don't know what I will do personally, but whatever is available to do, I will. I will be more than angry.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

I think the cities will explode if there's any evidence

of disenfranchisement. You're right-the first inauguration will look like a Nuremburg rally by comparison.

[radar]

8. Get A Bumper Sticker

..."Don't Blame Me - I Voted For KERRY!"

[Nordic]

62. I'm with you

And I hope that most Americans would join us.

If Bush "wins" it will only be because he cheats again.

If he cheats again, we will simply not let him get away with it.

The American people will not let him re-enter the oval office.

[sweetheart]

6. It can only be stolen, kerry has won

Bush is so "yesterday" and "incompetent".

Kerry is gonna win... but by the bizarre fluke you put foward,
then we'd have to accept the western continent would be a prison
for a century or two without any civil rights. As a global herd
of human animals, its not positive news, but we'd handle it.

Likely, liberal americans of goodwill will be accepted and
demanded the planet over for their positive, "can do" mentality
whilst the republican prison state reaches new lows in human
rights, reducing itself to a theocracy and adopting the bible
as the official rule of law.

We just are not going down that science fiction path, my friend.
Instead, President Kerry will take over and clean up the mess.

[liberalmuse]

7. I thought about that just today...

and what I thought is better left in my head. No worries. I will not hurt anyone or destroy anything like the freeps will when Kerry wins. Violent revolution is out. You become worse than the evil you are supposedly fighting. What can you do when most of your country men want nothing better than to shoot themselves (and you) in the foot? It's astounding the lies Americans have been sold. Black is white, up is down, AWOL is worthy of the worship of our troops while a hero is spit upon. There are just some things you have no control over. Peaceful revolution is more like it. I'm going to continue doing what I'm doing, but in a much higher gear.

On edit: Ah yes. And Bush will never 'win' a Presidential election. Ever.

[artfan]

9. Canada

I am not kidding either, I will not wait until the safety of my family is on the line.

[mbee]

44. Could anyone who knows a lot about Canada start posting

some information about the best places to live and work in case
we need to re-locate there.

[JudgeSmales]

49. What do you think is going to happen

that will hurt your family?????????/?/????

[Pachamama]

60. Me too...my husband and I are already looking at Real Estate in BC

Either the Vancouver area or even Eastern BC (about 3 hours north of Spokane, WA)

I figure its close and even though Canada and the US border eachother, Canada covers a lot of land mass and while the Canadians are some of the friendliest people, short of Rumsfeld and Bu$h dropping bunker busters on all of Canada, any "invasion" by US military would have every Canadian person as a sniper (there are after all more guns per person in Canada than the US)

Yep, Canada....

But on Inauguration Day...I'd be throwing my Pachababies dirty diapers at the Presidential Limo if Bu$h steals this election....and leading mass strikes, protests etc....

[Strelnikov_]

10. Ride Out The Next Four Years

The conservative era of the late 20th century is nearing it's end, just as other hyper-capitalistic era's (1920's, 1890's) ended, in economic malaise. I am afraid that the only way we will attain a shift in the electorate away from the politics of greed, and back to a liberal democracy, is through partial economic collapse, much like 1929.

Our democracy is strong enough to recover from the Boosh administration. Maybe the electorate will be sophisticated enough in the future to resist the siren call of the party of greed during better economic times.

A Kerry administration would slow the damage being done, provide for a softer landing, and allow the recovery to begin a little sooner. Of course, the right-wing echo chamber will blame the collapse on liberals and Kerry.

So, I will live the next four years with the satisfaction of a Kerry administration, with the downside that I will have to listen to the echo chamber bleat another 4 years.

Or I will be able to enjoy the complete collapse of the GOP over the next four years, with the downside that I may be caught up in the collapse.

Either way, it should be interesting.

[Cleita]

11. I have no choice.

My life is about two-thirds over (if I'm lucky). I have made all my decisions in life whether good or bad and now I have to lie in my bed. I hope for the sake of future generations that my fight is now a good fight and that we old people can turn the screw on this craziness.

[CalebHayes]

15. If it makes you feel any better I will try to stop the crazies in your gen

I'll do my best and maybe make some good out of the whole thing. You know the Iraq war has really pissed off a lot of kids. I may start a real movement, but suddenly. Obviously we don't have the flower gen thing going here but I think we are molding the my gen to be aware of what people like George Bush can do.

[Cleita]

17. I hope you guys do.

We have somehow failed you. Honestly, we tried to make things better. But we failed.

[CalebHayes]

19. If you could get out of the depression they we can get out of this.

[karlrschneider]

18. Yep, I'm 62 and just now getting back some of the SS I paid and I figure

I don't have all that much time left on my shift, so it's not like I have a lot to lose (no kids but nieces & nephews who deserve a future);
if the Chimp steals another 'election'...well, suffice it to say I am a VERY WELL ARMED proud Liberal who's mad as hell and won't put up with this shit any more.

[Cleita]

20. Long time no see.

:hi:

[Solon]

12. Depends...

if rightfully won, I'll bitch and moan, as well as agitate to make sure Repubs ain't elected again. If stolen or using some type of loophole like the Supremes, well Jefferson did say that governments should change from time to time when going against the people, from the blood of patriots and tyrants.

[Cleita]

13. This was always my problem with election 2000.

I wanted to know for sure that he had been elected, and if it was so, yes I would have bitched, but accepted the will of the majority. It was the way it came down that put a big sour plum in my mouth and for good reason. Now, at least we know we are dealing with facists who would destroy our democracy.

[proud patriot]

14. Wherever you may go proud patriot will be here

I love my country , It really burns my britches
to see it ravaged . I'm staying, whatever that means
I shall carry on the good fight .

To quote Byrd "Til The Flesh is Ripped from my bones"
I will hold true to the Constitution and the rule of law.

If that is outlawed around me I will not waver .

I'm standing my ground .

[MoonRiver]

16. I don't know.

That's the honest to God truth. It's such a horrible thought that I haven't been able to completely process it.

:scared::scared::scared:

[Genera X]

21. Darth Nader & The Great White North?

I don't know, honestly. I'm scared too. I preemptively applied for Canadian citizenship, just in case. I just barely eeked over the accepted score of 67, because of my college credits. New Zealand's immigration is even tougher.

And then a part of me feels viciously patriotic, a bit of the old Sam Adams in me (haha). I'm fighting now.

I feel infinitely frustrated that our countrymen regard us, and not the corporate whores, as the enemy. I blame compulsory schooling.

*grin*

[newyawker99]

38. Hi Genera X!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[alittlelark]

22. I, and some of my friends will be in the streets

'soccer moms in the streets' - I like it

Seriously, If I KNOW that the election was stolen, I will probably be arrested, not for violence, but for defiance.

Our Founding Fathers wisely stated that we, the people were expected to throw out tyranny in this country. Generations of my family have fought for this country - I will only leave if ALL is lost.

My kids and hubby would probably go to our cabin in CO, or to the division office we opened in Vancouver (when I was getting paranoid 2 years back.

Like a previous poster said "Hold on to your seats - it's gonna be a rough ride.

[Pachamama]

61. Hi Lil Lark! You & I will protest together as Mamas & then head to BC

Yeah, I'm in agreement with you on what to do....When its time to protest, I'll mail you since your not far away and when its time to head North, we'll have our families meet up in British Columbia!

:hi:

[JSJ]

23. next time they will be punished n/t

[Lindsey]

24. Quite possibly move to Cosat Rica...

my best friend moved there Tuesday of this week. I don't know for sure....I absolutely LOVE my job, California, and my life in general (except, of course, what's happened in the world since * was installed). My own little private world is fine but I simply can't look at everything that's going on and feel okay.

[Guy Fawkes]

25. If the election is *stolen*

I will be extremely pissed. If the election is lost fairly, then the american people have spoken.

[Pushed To The Left]

26. $100 to the ACLU

If Bush wins or steals the election, I'm going to give $100 to the ACLU the next day, and I urge everybody here to do the same should this occur. $100 is a lot for me, and I have never donated that much at one time. I was actually really broke a few times in the last few months due to donating money to political causes. But I am going to start saving now just in case, and I'll make sure I have the money on Nov. 2 should I need it. Who's with me? Just imagine the statement it would make if the ACLU got a huge increase in membership and funds overnight! I think it would make a huge statement.

I think that if the unthinkable happens, our focus as progressive-minded people should turn to the civil liberties groups. I'm going to take a look at People for the American Way as well. I think the civil liberties groups would provide us a very good backup plan.

[Zorra]

28. Well, I moved to Mexico after Bu$h stole the 2000 election, because

no one, and I mean no one, would stand with me. Y'all rolled over and shut up like a litter of suffocated puppies.

No strikes, no boycotts, no nothing. Nada.

I figure I'll have to stay in Mexico if the election is lost, and help with an underground railroad.

If it's stolen, I figure y'all will just watch it on CNN, munch a microwaved tidbit, go to bed, and submissively bend over and go back to work the next day.

It's the American way.

I'll be moving to Venezuela.

Unless y'all are strong enough to at least strike and boycott.

Then I will be there with you.

I'll take a bullet for you if you stand up for my freedom.

[Baja Margie]

57. Hi Zorra

We were down here already when that happened, and I think everyone was just in total shock, numb. Steadily, however, we've made a come back, and it's a grand movement.

You take care, you're good people.

[Piperay]

29. I'm moving within

a couple of years to Mexico whether Kerry or chimp wins...for a variety of reasons including being very unhappy here in general. :-(

[Baja Margie]

56. You've got amigos down here, look us up.

[VOX]

31. Even with Kerry winning the election, there will have to be a struggle...

Think of the right-wing propaganda machinery already in place: Fox News, hate radio, the winger-pandering CNN, all the reactionary columnists, etc. etc.

On day 1 of the Kerry administration, they will be spinning and misinforming, and playing the game of "gotcha!" with Kerry's every uttered sentence and action, and so on.

Kerry-Edwards will be under attack from the very beginning, and will probably get precious little cooperation from the Republicans in the House and Senate.

All fair-minded people will have to keep voicing support for Kerry-Edwards, and keep hounding the media whores more than ever.

[DUreader]

32. If you are average college age, you may be drafted before you can finish

no deferments are planned this time

[fujiyama]

39. I'm 23

and a possible draft worries me. I'm not interested in dying for Bush's wars.

[mopaul]

33. like last time, i'll whine & totally surrender to the dark forces

while i should be storming the white house, i'll watch t.v. and bitch.

[truthspeaker]

34. Lost: leave. Stolen: fight.

[Mad_Dem_X]

35. I think, like last time...

the only way he will win is if he cheats. Then get ready for an uprising. And I'll be right there, fighting.

[franmarz]

36. Lost ELECTION__AGAIN?

I hate to think about it, but as an older retiree, I must just accept the fact that I didnt work hard enough to change things, and will try to make up for it. Also, I must feel embarrassed that we in Fla. are the laughing stock of states, as evidenced by last -so called election-. We were visiting Germany just after the last election, and when we met people at the Hofprhaus, they really joked about us being from Florida, in a nice way of course.
So here's hoping that honesty will prevail this time around, or we will all just have to suck it up and wait for little brother to step right in next.

[Baja Margie]

58. We never laughed at you guys, ever,

you got screwed and we felt for you.

[DU GrovelBot]

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This week is our third quarter 2004 fund drive. Democratic
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[Deja Q]

40. Cry as we'll be raped even more atrociously/vigorously...

Raped by a men who (proverbially) have AIDS and wishes to spread it to as many people as possible for the sick selfish pleasure of doing so.

That's my analogy for * and corporate-america these days.

They do not care about our country or its infrastructure. Only their greed. And that is beyond sickening. Indeed, I actually give more respect to men who have AIDS and wilfully spread it than tho$e in power. x( (and I don't.)

I'm appalled that nearly half this country still likes that guy. What are they seeing that we are not? Or what are they not seeing that we know?!?!?! It is frustrating, to say the least.

[terrya]

41. Cry. Because the American people won't do a damned thing about it.

We should be OUT IN THE STREETS if this were to happen. Armed revolt.

But it simply won't happen.

[Deja Q]

42. A coworker I work with

Feels sorry for * and says that not everything going on is his fault.

(But he is responsible for some of it, should be held accountable for some of it, and is doing nothing about any of it. How can she not see what's going on?)

[jackieforthedems]

43. First...

I'd cry:cry: Then, I'd be really angry:grr: Then, the nausea would set in:puke: I'm not sure what I'd do next, but I really think John Kerry will get in!!! :party:

[Pegleg Thd]

45. Am hoping for a Kerry WIN!!

But either way I probably won't be on this side of dirt for the next election. Am in the process of putting together a living will and getting all other legal issues taken care of.
Have a serious case of hardening of the arteries and all I can do is try to keep going until I drop.:nuke: :nuke:

[jackieforthedems]

51. Stay Optimistic My Friend

3 years ago, they thought I may have had MS, went through some awful symptoms, etc... but it all ended up being related to a dental cleaning appointment. I'm fine now. Stay optimistic because miracles happen, and besides, we need you around next election to help Kerry stay in for a 2nd term!!! :hi:

[IndianaGreen]

46. The only way Kerry will lose this election is...

The only way Kerry will lose this election is if he is found in bed with Wacko Jacko.

How the votes are counted by machine is another thing altogether.

[annabanana]

47. "Democratic Underground".. will have a whole new meaning..

We may have to start sending smoke signals, or hanging color coded petticoats from clotheslines...?

[11 Bravo]

48. You'll read about in the paper.

n/t

[Gregorian]

50. As though this all started in 2000? Not even.

And I just can't figure out why people think that this all started in 2000...
For some of us, this has been going on since 1981.
Furthermore, Kerry isn't going to do much. The problems are so much bigger than anyone can deal with.
You can't leave the country as easily as one thinks. I just found out.

So, basically whatever happens, I'll just be doing the same thing.

[robcon]

52. I'll begin working for 2008 the second the election is over.

I won't miss a beat.

[Kazak]

54. I definitely won't leave the country, but..

I might consider moving to a more liberal area in the country. I shudder to think what'll happen in this country (and by extension, the world!!) if a significant percentage of the left leaning voters leave the country.

[Baja Margie]

55. None of us will have to

do anything. Kerry will not lose, but there's a possibility that the Chimpy regime is so desperate, they might steal it. If they steal it, and get away with it, Bush will continue his Crusade and it will probably escalate into nuclear war and the end of all of us.

[emc]

59. How about march on Washington

Its either Washington or Crawford----Ill be there

[Zan_of_Texas]

63. I think folks should get creative. And really really angry.

Remember the fight for civil rights? Slavery ended in 1865, and the civil rights act was passed 99 years later. Between that time, there were lynchings of blacks who attempted to vote, and stuff too countless to put in this post.

Remember the fight for women to vote? There were hunger strikes. Marches (in one case, a walk from NYC to DC, including 22 miles in a snowstorm). Money was raised by the nickels and dimes. Women were beaten in jails overrun with rats and food with worms in it. The people who started it, for the most part, didn't live to see women's suffrage.

When Chavez was thrown from office two years ago, the people didn't let the coup stand -- he was back in office within 48 hours. I'm not quite sure how that happened, but it did. And the US had supported the coup. And, it's the fifth largest oil exporting country in the world, so you know the US cared.

If you believe half the people in this country support Bush, because the polls say so, you need to look around again. Go stand in a number of places in your community and ask people. And think about how an election theft works -- one has to have some cooperation from the pollsters and media.

So, what are the people of this country willing to do to take it back?

Call and write congresspeople? Sorry folks, they are mostly owned and operated by the corporations. What about the secretaries of state, who govern elections?

Okay, maybe you'd be willing to do a sit in in their local or DC offices until they meet with you. In a group of say, 60 people.

Wear a button? Jim Hightower says the best button he's ever seen said, "WEARING A BUTTON IS NOT ENOUGH"

Are you willing to cut your energy usage by 10%? California did it in the wink of an eye during the energy crisis. What can YOU do personally to help us get off our addiction to cheap fossil fuels (major reserves of which are in the Middle East/Central Asia)? Low usage light bulbs? Share rides part of the time? Ride your bike one day twice a month? Clean your ac filters? Hey, sure, it doesn't sound radical, but our soldiers are over there getting dehumanized and maimed so we can have cheap oil (and empire). And, so oil companies can profit.

Are you willing to participate in free speech with work stoppages? How about arranging to stop paying taxes for a period of time, so that your taxes don't pay for the $400 billion + several hundred billion in "extras" that it's costing to run this war.

Are you willing to identify the policymaking elite who live in your community, and personally demand that they see beyond their quarterly profits and get serious about saving this country (Anybody see Lou Dobbs on Bill Moyers on Friday ??? EXCELLENT! There should be some notes at www.pbs.org).

I'm not advocating any of these (Hello, agent mike), I'm just suggesting that writing letters to the editor and letters to our congresspeople is not working, and we need to be creative about thinking of something that will.

If they know they can steal elections, all the voting and pre-voting activity is bunk. It's just a photo op.

Can they just do it? Steal our money, our liberties, shred the constitution, bloody our young people (and those in other countries), defile our environment?

Is this unsettling? So, go back and watch reruns of Friends. Or check on the latest on Britney or Kobe. Never mind.

[Doctor Panacea]

64. Mexico as option?

Is Mexico a good option? I speak Spanish. But where are some good places for Americans in Mexico? I would like to hear some advice on this.

By the way, I do not think the Chimp will be back in the White House cage for another four years.

Of course, I could be wrong.

[Baja Margie]

65. It depends, Doctor.....

Would you commute to work? Are you retired? If you are independently wealthy and secure, you could go just about anywhere. Speaking the language gives you a wonderful advantage. Would you be buying a house, or renting ? What suits you, the ocean or inland ? Baja or the Mainland? Or, maybe you want something to kind of be a 'base camp', while you travel around. Many retirees have homes or trailers further down South, then return up here for the summer.

Our first house was on leased land, owned by a private family. In a situation like that, you own the house, but not the land.This is okay, many summer homes are owned by Americans this way, and if the family is stable, you shouldn't have a problem. Keep in mind though, if they decide to put in a hotel, they simply do not renew your lease - leases are only legal in Mexico for one year, with an exception - and you lose.Leases are only valid legally if you are a documented FM3. Never buy property from an Ejido, look up Punta Banda and you will be able to see what happened to those folks.
We are now in what is called a Fideocomiso, the only way to go . This was an american community 25 years ago, but is now mostly a Mexican neighborhood. This is the exception I was speaking of. We "own" the house and the land - for fifty years. In 50 years, I'll be gone, so I don't care, but say I was still around, the lease is renewable for another 50 years through the bank. We pay taxes to Mexico City, about $360.00 a year. You can still pick up good beach property up North here for very cheap.Forget about living right on the beach, especially up North here, that is the 'federal zone', and they are coming down hard on gringos who live there. Used to be that , at least up North, you could live in the federal zone, build a house, and simply pay taxes to Mexico City yearly.
Beware of complete American communities and "camps". They can turn into gossipy snake pits with alot of alcohol or drug abuse yet others can be very nice. Consider if you will have access to City water and sewer, or have to have a pila or both.

A suggestion would be to try it for a year and see if you like it enough to invest in it. I would recommend reading everything you can get your hands on. talking to people who live here (careful, lot of GOP down here) and physically checking it out. Maybe Zorra and Mexexpat have more suggestions, Zorra and Mexexpat, where are you ?

Hoped this helped.