I have been elated over the past few weeks since the polls have shown huge progress for Obama, but I am nervous. Perhaps it is because I was strung too badly the last election when I was convinced there is no way Bush could win, but he did (well, almost). But, there is so much hate from the Palin side and I distrust Bush .. a lot. Beneath my optimism about Obama is an intense sense of dread; an almost guttural fear.
I just read an article by Naomi Wolf on alternet (http://www.alternet.org/rights/101958/thousands_of_troops_are_deployed_on_u.s.streetsready_to_carry_out_%22crowd_control%22/ )
Thousands of Troops Are Deployed on U.S. Streets Ready to Carry Out "Crowd Control"
Background: the First Brigade of the Third Infantry Division, three to four thousand soldiers, has been deployed in the United States as of October 1. Their stated mission is the form of crowd control they practiced in Iraq, subduing "unruly individuals," and the management of a national emergency. I am in Seattle and heard from the brother of one of the soldiers that they are engaged in exercises now. Amy Goodman reported that an Army spokesperson confirmed that they will have access to lethal and non lethal crowd control technologies and tanks.
It appears that after Katrina, Bush struck down Posse Comitatus, which made it illegal for the military to patrol the U.S. I found the following from SourceWatch.org (http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Posse_Comitatus_Act
2006: On the Eve of the Midterm Elections, PCA Nullified
Recently, Congress passed a controversial bill which grants the President the right to commandeer Federal or even state National Guard Troops and use them inside the United States. This bill, entitled the John Warner Defense Appropriation Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (H.R. 5122.ENR), contains a provision, (Section 1076) which allows the President to:
"...employ the armed forces, including the National Guard in Federal service, to...
1. restore public order and enforce the laws of the United States when, as a result of a natural disaster, epidemic, or other serious public health emergency, terrorist attack or incident, or other condition in any State or possession of the United States..., where the President determines that,...domestic violence has occurred to such an extent that the constituted authorities of the State or possession are incapable of maintaining public order;
2. suppress, in a State, any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy..." [3]
Senator Patrick Leahy and others have condemned Section 1076 because it effectively nullifies the Posse Comitatus Act and the Insurrection Act (10 U.S.C. 331-335) and gives the President the legal ability to define under what conditions martial law may be declared. [4]
H.R.5122 was signed into law by President Bush on October 17, 2006, and will take effect October 1, 2007 (unless an earlier effective date is established by regulation). "On the same day, Bush signed the Military Commissions Act of 2006, which abolishes the legal protection of habeas corpus, authorizes the president to detain and jail anyone (even US citizens) without charge and subject them to harsh interrogation that may or may not involve torture." [5]
And, Representative Brad Sherman indicated some members of congress were threatened with martial law if they did not pass the bailout bill:
Transcript of the above:
The only way they can pass this bill is by creating and sustaining a panic atmosphere. That atmosphere is not justified. Many of us were told in private conversations that if we voted against this bill on Monday, that the sky would fall, the market would drop two or three thousand points the first day and another couple thousand the second day, and a few members were even told that there would be martial law in America if we voted no. That is what I call fear mongering, unjustified, proven wrong. We've got a week, we've got two weeks to pass a good bill. The only way to pass a bad bill is to keep the panic on.
I know, I know. I am perhaps getting ahead of myself. But I don't trust Bush at all .. I don't trust him at all. I am worried he will try something like martial law. The economy is tanking, he has his justification, if he needs it.
But that is not all I'm worried about.
I am worried that the Republicans are going to disenfranchise many many new voters.
I am worried that they are villainizing ACORN and Obama, that they think he is a terrorist, that they think low income housing caused the crash, that some might react violently; and that Palin is instigating it further.
Seth Colter Walls at the HuffingtonPost (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/09/mccain-palin-rally-attend_n_133240.html ) turned us onto a video by BloggerInterrupted (which I've seen other diarists post here as well):
In it people at a Palin rally are asked if they think Obama is a terrorist, and .. well, many think he is.
Then Seth updated his blog with a new, even worse video:
Again Palin rally attendees continue to believe the hogwash about Obama being a terrorist and a Muslim. One man refers to liberals as "socialist swine", another yells at people across the street (presumably Obama sypathizers) "European Socialists!" The camera holder asks one, "do you think they should die?" and he responds with a smirk, "everyone dies, don't they?" One Obama supporter says something about Palin voting to have his friend (whom I suppose was raped) pay for her own rape kit and asks how they feel about that. Someone in the Palin crowd responds "she should die!" and another yells, "she should pay double!" Some asshole carrying a sign that says something about ACORN yells out, "Let's register more dead people for Obama!"
Then, as with the first video, McCain supporters indicate they do not believe Obama to be an American and indicate they think he is a terrorist.
I'm afraid that when Obama wins, these people may get ugly and refuse to accept his authority.
Okay, I'm done with my paranoid rants now. Where is my soma?