Posted on 07/11/2004 11:35:22 AM PDT by gorebegone
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. counterterrorism officials are looking at an emergency proposal on the legal steps needed to postpone the November presidential election in case of an attack by al Qaeda, Newsweek reported on Sunday.
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge warned last week that Osama bin Laden (news - web sites)'s al Qaeda network may attack within the United States to try to disrupt the election.
The magazine cited unnamed sources who told it that the Department of Homeland Security asked the Justice Department (news - web sites) last week to review what legal steps would be needed to delay the election if an attack occurred on the day before or the day of the election.
The department was asked to review a letter to Ridge from DeForest Soaries, who is the chairman of the new U.S. Election Assistance Commission, the magazine said.
The commission was created in 2002 to provide funds to the states to the replace punch card voting systems and provide other assistance in conducting federal elections.
In his letter, Soaries pointed out that while New York's Board of Elections suspended primary elections in New York on the day of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, "the federal government has no agency that has the statutory authority to cancel and reschedule a federal election."
Soaries wants Ridge to ask Congress to pass legislation giving the government such power, Newsweek reported in its latest issue that hits the newsstands on Monday.
Homeland Security Department spokesman Brian Rochrkasse told the magazine the agency is reviewing the matter "to determine what steps need to be taken to secure the election."
It will never happen - even contingency plans to delay the vote is a victory for terrorists.
Newsweek is it? The election should proceed on schedule no matter what.
Thanks Spain. What a great object lesson you provided.
Delaying an election is something that should be avoided if at all possible. It just says, yep, you disrupted the election process in another nation.
Nope, roll right on through the election like nothing happened. Let the terrorist wince at a great republic in action.
It'll be the moral equivelant of us flipping the terrorists off.
No Way I am for Delay.
Imagine if Clinton would have done something like this. This board would have imploded.
Let's see.....Headlines regarding the election if an attack happens......"BUSH WINS OVERWHELMING RE-ELECTION" ha ha go for it Al Queda!
I remember the loony left putting out this kind of garbage in 1972, saying Nixon and Agnew were planning to cancel the election because of domestic unrest. Old wine, new bottle.
Presidential elections by popular vote are unnecessary.
20th Amendment:
Section 3. If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.
Article II:
Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors, equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or person holding an office of trust or profit under the United States, shall be appointed an elector.
They would have to suspend the Constitution. Article II Section 1 states "He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years..." Not Four and a half years, not five years, but four years. These guys are really venturing into uncharted territory by even suggesting this. I don't like it one bit. Bushie should let the bad guys know that any attempt to disrupt our elections will result in opening a can of whup-ass that they can't begin to imagine.
..."the federal government has no agency that has the statutory authority to cancel and reschedule a federal election."
Jeez,maybe theres a reason for that?
Are these guys nuts?! This is exactly what the terrorists want us to do. If we do this; they've won. Just as Spain laid down on its back and cried 'uncle.'
W ought to bitch slap these pantywaiste 'counterterrorism officials'. IMOHO
It looks like something akin to an electorial college could be called into choose the President. Could you imagine the lawyers coming out of the woodwork if this happened?
'Nov. 1, 2004. From the appearances of the most recent Zogby Poll showing Kerry down 8 points, we will be bombing tomorrow in order to prevent the election of the infidel Bush. We will continue bombing until the Zogby poll shows Kerry leading by at least 5.'
Well, I hope you're right but it could go either way. If there is another terrorist attack on our shores before the election; it will be a landslide for either Bush or Kerry. I lean toward Bush but, with the fickle American electorate; who knows?
The United States government has no way to postpone or cancel the elections because there are (except technically in the territories, Puerto Rico and DC) no federal elections.
The states are in charge of:
1. Choosing the manner in which presidential Electors are chosen.
2. Organzing elections for US Senators and Representatives.
3. Organizing elections for State local officials.
The only problems they have to deal with are:
Having electors chosen before early December, before the statutory date on which they vote for president.
Certifying the elections of US Senators and Representatives prior to the expiration of the current Congress in the first week of January.
Having State and local officials named before the various terms expire.
The critical ones are:
US President
State executives
US Congress
State legislatures
As long as those posts are legally filled we can wing it on the rest.
Oh the Liberals'll have fun kicking this one around.
"Nope, roll right on through the election like nothing happened. Let the terrorist wince at a great republic in action."
Exactly!
I had a laugh filled night last night reading DU. One of their conspiracy theories was that Bush was going to delay the election. I say the date remains ... no matter what!
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