HuffPo: What Would You Do If Bush Declared Martial Law?

[SlowDownFast]

By Jane Smiley

2-20-07

What Would You Do If Bush Declared Martial Law?

An editorial in the New York Times yesterday pointed out, for those of us who didn't realize it, that the Bush administration had inserted two provisions into last October's defense budget bill that would make it easier to declare martial law in the US. Senators Leahy and Bond have introduced a bill to repeal these changes, and it is important that
voters keep track of this bill and hold their Congresspeople to account on it. Along with several other measures the Bush administration has proposed, the introduction of these changes amounts, not to an attack on the Congress and the balance of power, but to a particular and concerted attack on the citizens of the nation. Bush is laying the legal groundwork to repeal even the appearance of democracy. Any senator who does not vote in favor of the Leahy/Bond repeal of these provisions should promptly be recalled by his or her constituents.

That said, and without underestimating the seriousness of these provisions, I have to point out that with this as with other legal maneuvers like the Military Commissions Act, I have to wonder who Bush, Cheney, Rove, etc. think they are governing. Were they planning to spring these things on us? One day, we were supposed to wake up, and martial law would be declared, and we were supposed to actually pay attention to it? Where are they keeping the troops who were going to patrol our neighborhoods? Who was it who was going to disarm the population? Who was their base going to be, when they sought public support for martial law? Who was going to round us up and where were they going to put us?

It is in these sorts of things that the byzantine thinking and strange psychological make-up of the Bushies comes out. Let's say that Bush imagines (with Gonzalez and Cheney) the enhanced joys of bringing the war home. No longer is his command "over there"--it is now "over here". He can go out onto the White House lawn and issue edicts, and then perhaps he can be driven around Washington, or over into Virginia, and watch civilians obey his orders in a way that the Iraqis seem unwilling to do. I am assuming that the purpose of such an exercise would be to renew and intensify the now-diminishing frisson Bush gets from feeling himself the boss of all he surveys. But we all know it would not work. Very few people believe Bush or take his needs and desires seriously any more. Bush, or his keepers, know this, too, or they would not have introduced these provisions secretly. There was a time, when the nation was in a panic, when he could purloin things openly, and no one dared defy him. That was the appropriate occasion for these martial law changes. Now, or even last fall, was not that time. The Republicans must have suspected that to make such provisions known would have meant jeopardizing an iffy mid-term election even more than it already was, so they hid them. But the fact that they hid them makes them a hundred times more suspect--are the Bushies planning a coup after all?

And if they are planning a coup, what's the goal? Who is going to fall in line? Arnold Schwarzenegger, my very own governor? Chet Culver? Kathleen Sebelius? Eliot Spitzer? Since the US is a corporatocracy, would we then all be forced to work for $2.00 per hour? Give up all workplace benefits? Attend the religious services of our choice on Sunday? Devote even more of our tax dollars to the war machine and the oil machine? Haven't they taken everything already? Try as I might, I cannot imagine martial law in the US, except as something the population would agree to under threat from...from whom? Correct me if I am wrong (I know you will), but the last time martial law was declared was during the Civil War, and Americans, though the threats to the Union were profound and omnipresent, didn't like it then. I can't even imagine what would happen now.

Our armed forces can't subdue Iraq. I can't imagine that Bush thinks they could subdue New England or the West Coast, much less the whole US. To imagine himself commanding such a thing seems like magical thinking at its most obvious. So, what would you did if Bush declared martial law, laugh?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-smiley/what-would-you-do-if-bush_b_41674.html

[shadowknows69]

1. I guess I'd consider George to be openly declaring himself king

and then I'd go looking for Paul Revere and the Minutemen. Don't do it GW or it's on.

[Richard Steele]

2. Bush and what army? nm

[cali]

5. Exactly. Which is why my reaction would be to

laugh. Let's see: A country of 300 million that's awash in guns and has a ton of trained ex-military, armed forces bogged dow overseas, a huge amount of territory to try and secure, etc., etc.

[Leopolds Ghost]

13. You guys don't understand what fascism entails.

Daily life did not change much for your average, middle class German in the 1930s.

Nor did it change much for your average middle-class white homeowner in the past ten years or so.

It's all about police tactics. Who needs the military when the police are better armed and authorized to use more forceful tactics than our troops were 100 years ago?

[jberryhill]

20. And since police officers have no minds of their own...

then they'll easily round up, say, everyone in South Central LA.

The majority of people in this country no longer approve of Bush as president. You think he's got unanimous support among police officers, their families, their friends, etc..

Authoritarian governments entail quite a bit. Just a few weeks after Hungary called it quits on enforcing the Iron Curtain, what good was the entire East German police apparatus when enough people said, "the heck with this" and started beating down the Berlin Wall with hammers?

[cali]

23. You don't understand this country .

The U.S. is huge territorially speaking. Police? Other than in major cites, and even there- there's not enough of them to control the population. And that's IF they went along with it. They sure wouldn't where I live. And just about everyone has guns. What's more, although I do think "it can happen here", I don't think the parallel between the U.S. and Germany is close in some important particulars.

[Richard Steele]

24. I am very aware of what it entails.

I am also very aware of what SUCCESSFULLY RESISTING it
at the local level has historically entailed.

And that's all I have to say about that.

[BluePatriot]

29. *nods*

another point --

Don't underestimate the power of groupthink...while there are many people who would be horrified, just as many would be complacent or supportive because they have been brainwashed into not questioning authority. The very chilling thing to think about, even though I find this martial law scenario unlikely, is how many people would support such an action or not understand it. It wouldn't be army/policemen vs. a mass of pissed off Americans, it'd be neighbors against their "wierd" neighbors. As long as there is no economic disruption and cable TV still works, a good 35 percent of the populace would play along. Maybe more if you count fear of the police/military, who wants to stand against those guys? ...A group of 30 cops can clear a street filled with 100,000 for a Mardi Gras parade just by donning riot gear and marching forward slowly, right? It's constantly reinforced obedience, logic doesn't kick in for a lot of people unless they are especially bright/resilient/contrarian.

Hell, there are people here in Texas who would round me up and send me off for posting on this board. Now.

[treestar]

32. You've got a point, I remember the big DU controversy over

what the students did when another student was being tasered. Some were saying they should have gotten involved to prevent the attack, but many were quite adamant that no one should ever fight against police because they can hurt you.

[BluePatriot]

35. Right.

A lot of people will know something is wrong but not have the nerve/motivation/"guts" to suffer the pain of challenging authority...unless they see others around them doing it loudly and vocally. Many others. Often, no one will be the first one to risk their neck. The question is, would we have loud and vocal resistance to such an action as martial law in a consistent manner around the nation? Possibly, but it will always take that first brave voice to get the ball rolling. Which is why I love DU, all the brave voices :)

[C_U_L8R]

3. Burn Baby Burn

There would be revolution.

[Taxloss]

4. Clear the guest room

for emigres.

[Lowell]

6. He would have to abandon his adventure in Iraq

to quell the rebellion here. Wishful thinking on his part, nothing more. He may find it very difficult to convince the military to level their weapons on their fellow countrymen.

[mainegreen]

7. Leave.

My family has done it before, and I'm not one to break with tradition.

[Pachamama]

21. Same here...my family left Nazi Germany....

I think that if martial law was declared by Bush, I live in a well to do community that life might largely stay "the same", but I would start making the plans to leave the country with my family. In fact, I'm sure that is what we would be doing. There is no disagreement from my husband on that particular event determining that its time to leave.

[treestar]

34. In modern times, that could be harder to do, though

Immigration laws and enforcement around the world are much stricter. It might be hard to find a country that would admit you.

My mother was able to qualify for Irish citizenship, since they let their extend to grandchildren of their natives. So she could go there and we would at least be able to stay as her relatives, and would have to work up the ability to have a job over time. But not everyone would have such a route to go.

[wakeme2008]

8. Like others have said --- with WHAT ARMY

:shrug:

[ruiner4u]

11. the 101st flying keyboard-kommandos brigade...

of course....

[TheMightyFavog]

61. HEY! Don't sully the good name of Magic: the Gathering with that of a freeper.

Everybody knows that no freeper is even smart enoght to know the rules, much less build a good deck.

[The Backlash Cometh]

9. Extend my options on my cable t.v.

[Leopolds Ghost]

10. He can't imagine Martial Law in the US? Where has he been??

He hasn't been in New Orleans.

Not the ghetto of any US city.

Not Manhattan or DC.

Not the gated communities outside LA.

Until the word "Gretna" becomes synonymous with "Attica" I question the
sanity of people who are still on these boards, bitching about how THEY
won't let it happen to THEIR community.

[UnyieldingHierophant]

12. Country Boy will survive.

:patriot:

[dchill]

14. I guess I would wonder...

Who's even paying attention?

[LiberalEsto]

15. Sitting at my congressman's office

demanding to know what he will do about this.

[Cha]

16. Do you think this would wake

up the somnolent masses?
It doesn't make me want to laugh..it makes want to have a weapon and I don't even like weapons.

[Hippo_Tron]

17. See, the freepers argued that they needed their assault weapons in case Clinton declared martial law

Turns out that 8 years passed and nothing happened.

[Bobbieo]

19. Creating martial law would be a stupid move by the Bush Admin

but just about every move they make is stupid, anyway. So I wouldn't put it pass them to try to pull it off.

[Jack Rabbit]

18. The Frat Boy better not be expecting me to fall in line

As it is, he is a tyrant whose power rests on no legitimate authority. So what will change?

Bush lost in 2000 and his claim to carrying Ohion in 2004 is dubious. He has no right to declare martial law or to direct troops into combat. He is not president.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

22. I'd laugh.

Bush and what fucking Army are going to enforce this?

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

25. My phone would be ringing off the hook. Somehow, I have become the go to political person for many

friends, family, acquaintances and co workers. Well, I guess it's not that much of a mystery how that happened. :-)

Anyway, if martial law is declared, I hope some of us grass roots types are poised with actable ideas to engage the newly horrified into immediate action. MKJ

[petgoat]

30. Well, what action specifically? Mass defiance of no-assembly orders? nt

[lectrobyte]

33. Who needs that level of ugliness when they can pawn us off to a

Free Speech Zone and effectively neuter any protest?

[treestar]

42. We would have to go out in the streets in droves so they could not

disappear people as easily, and no one should go off with the authorities quietly trusting that they will get a hearing.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

49. Well, civil disobedience does have an excellent track record. The question is who would be willing

put their words into that sort of action...there would be a brief window in time when most citizens would be willing to do so, immediately after the "declaration".

MKJ

[eddy51]

26. Not to worry

As Henry Wallace once famously said, "The American fascist would prefer not to use violence. His method is to poison the channels of public information."

[meldroc]

27. Work on setting the Gandhi Trap.

I just finished reading Bob Altemeyer's The Authoritarians. Bear in mind that this isn't some guy talking out of his ass. Bob Altemeyer's been conducting psychological experiments on Right Wing Authoritarianism and Social Dominance Orientation for decades, and everything in this book is based on his and other's research.

He mentioned two workable ways of pushing back the authoritarianism that's been spreading like a cancer through this country:

1. Increased education, especially college education. People who've been through a four year university education, who have experienced everything from meeting openly gay friends, and hearing other points of view, and being made to defend their own points of view, score significantly lower on RWA indexes. Pushing for more people to get educated is a good long-term way of pushing back the fascists.


2. Non-violent Civil Disobedience: Altemeyer mentioned what he called the Gandhi Trap. If an authoritarian regime overreacts and violently attacks a group engaged in non-violent resistance, the result will be a powerful backlash that will destroy a huge amount of support for the authoritarians. Think of the Boston Massacre, Kent State, Bull Connor's attacks on civil-rights activists in Birmingham. The authoritarians attack a non-violent protest against their authority, and as a result, they come out as the obvious bad guys. That's the Gandhi Trap. Defy the unjust authority, and push them to either give in, or attack in such a way that it backfires horribly.

So if Bush declare's martial law, the last best hope is to conduct massive protests and provoke him into another Kent State. It may be bloody and it will be ugly, but if Bush becomes violent, his support will crumble.

[Pacifist Patriot]

52. Agreed

[marmar]

28. I guess it would be off to Gitmo for me, because I would be part of whatever resistance there was...

Jane Smiley writes some of the more thought-provoking material out there in the blogosphere.

[Blackhatjack]

31. Just a fact for your consideration --rise of paid mercenaries in US....

There has been a marked increase in 'corporate provided security' in this country, by firms like Halliburton's Blackwater.

Many of these 'employees' are being plucked from military trained pools. Many of these were trained and brought in from 'outside the country.' After all, Halliburton and Blackwater consider themselves to be 'world entities' with operations carried out around the world.

And so many government no-bid contracts with Halliburton and their ilk have been carried out with 'foreign' personnel. BTW the contracts to build 'detention centers' in the US went to Halliburton, just in case there is a massive invasion of hispanics over the border.

Add to that the number of 'foreign' enlistees that have been promised a fast track to US citizenship after serving in the military in IRaq.

[BuyingThyme]

36. Support the troops.

:silly:

[earth mom]

37. They will go after any of us who've spoken out, blogged, protested,

joined groups like Code Pink etc.

And what happens to "desenters" will NOT be televised. :scared:

[treestar]

39. The desenters will be screwn!

I like to point out to freep-types that they will be the first to go, screaming about how they shouldn't be, because they supported Chimpy and the troops all along, it's a mistake (and they'll have given up their right to challenge said mistake).

[petgoat]

40. That's why we all have to stand with Cindy and Cynthia and

Medea and Sunsara and Mindy and Lorie and Sibel and Indira.

[Fovea]

53. Sadly correct.

Of course, it won't be easy.

A couple weeks ago I put a hand sized group of 5 in a 50yd target (and disintegrated a phonebook) with a .44 Colt Dragoon pistol - shooting a .451 round ball with 50 grains of 3F BP. They went through the 4 inch thick yellow pages, an inch of plywood, and flattened out fairly well against a .50" Steel road plate behind that. Not bad for a pistol designed for the Mexican American war of 1849.

And of course, the .50 BP deer gun is a muzzle loader too, but it shoots a 4/5ths oz big game conical -- a steel bullet made for Elk and Moose. Very accurate out past 100 yds.

The most distant line of sight to my house is approx 25 yards. I will be behind a wall that a .223 will not get through.

Important safety tip for unfortunate MilSpec or hapless LEO: It doesn't matter if you are wearing kevlar if the impact kills you.

Sure, I will go down, but it won't be a happy day for them, either. This is your fascist dictatorship without habeas corpus. Die for it, motherfuckers.

[SlowDownFast]

65. "...a well-armed populace, etc....."

Gimme Liberty or gimme death....

I'm as liberal and peace-loving as they come, until someone threatens my freedom and family and wants to take away my guns.

I never thought I'd see the day when I actually had to seriously consider living under a fascist takeover of my beloved country.

[Ghost in the Machine]

66. I like the way you think....

"This is your fascist dictatorship without habeas corpus. Die for it, motherfuckers."


This should be the motto for the new revolution

:hi:

[meldroc]

67. Non-violence for as long as non-violence is possible. Then...

I don't want to see violence. I'm inclined to go the route of Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. for as long as possible. But that's only possible for so long.

If the government comes for me to drag me off to a REX84 camp, they will find me waiting for them with a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun loaded with magnum hollow-point 1 oz slugs. To defeat those, you'll need to wear so much Kevlar you'll look like the Michelin Man. And even if the armor does stop it, it will certainly hurt like a mo-fo. And that's assuming I'm aiming for the chest. That gas-mask and Lexan face shield isn't going to come close to stopping a 12-gauge slug...

[Fovea]

68. as someone who hunted white tail with a Browning

shotgun in the ozarks, I was always impressed with the sheer stopping power of a good magnum slug.

It is not the kind of country that you want to chase down wounded deer in. So I appreciate how suited to task a monumental hunk of lead is, even at 900fps.

[EC]

38. With what army? How about

Blackwater, Cachi and the others? I've been reading where Blackwater is setting up more training camps, one by Chicago is the latest I read...why? They say they'll be training for local police and security firms...how many police forces have been infiltrated by these guys already? I've noticed an increase in our town of out-of-staters becoming cops here, I've also noticed more shottings by the cops for miner offences, (like running (on foot) from an officer for a traffic stop, the guy was killed) So I'm thinking they have their own army...

[sinkingfeeling]

41. First thing I'd do is to stop all federal payroll deductions. Second, buy me a big old

AK47 and lots of ammo.

[OxQQme]

45. Civil War/Seccesion

The author of Ecotopia nailed it.
Quite a war.
Rights wouldn't let the lefts remove themselves from the madness.
Had to have them for their fleece.
Neighbors vs neighbors. Family fractions.
Story revolved around some free code about how to make a super efficient solar panel
that anybody could make using common materials, and THE POWERS interaction with that
threat to their sovereignty.
Recommended read.
There's also a continuation sequel.

[Homer Wells]

63. Agreed!

Excellent book.

[CoffeeCat]

43. I hate to say this, but....

...we all saw what happened in New Orleans when the tanks and military rolled in.

The military blocked entrance into New Orleans and did not allow anyone to come
into the city. People with food and water--for people who were dying of thirst
and hunger---were denied entrance into New Orleans by our government.

What happened? Was their a revolt? Did people question this authority? Did people
defeat this authority, call it out and say, "Hell no! We're coming in with food
and water and we will not allow you to kill people!!"

There were instances of people doing things. Sean Penn got in boats and delivered
water and food to people. Neighbors helped neighbors. People did get around.

However, there was no national uproar over the military blocking entrance into
a major US city--where people were dying and suffering.

Yes, people were upset. However, we did not have a "V For Vendetta" human sea
in the streets---demanding that water and food be allowed in.

Just my 2 cents.

When it happens it's frightening. They count on that.

[Blackhatjack]

48. Yep, if you needed a good trial run of martial law to see how people would react it was New Orleans

The truth about what the government knew and what it did in New Orleans is still being covered up.

I know for a fact that the emergency air-lift feeding station of the Southern Baptist Convention was 'on the ground' just outside the city right after the Hurricane passed. THey planned days in advance of the storm, were fully stocked with food and supplies, and activited the air-lift unit that could be airdropped right inside the city and be serving meals within a couple of hours.

The government would not allow them to do this, claiming it would encourage people to stay rather than evacuate.

They waited and waited, but were never given the ok.

THis special airlift feeding station was designed to respond to a massive earthquake along the New Madrid fault, which is expected at any time. While they did not use the airlift feeding station in NY after 911, they were there almost immediately and were the primary server of tens of thousands of meals in the first few days in cooperation with the Red Cross.

You have to question how mere incompetence could be the answer. IMHO there was another agenda at work, and explains why the billions of dollars of aid to New Orleans still has not been spent to this day.

[SlowDownFast]

60. Not quite the same situation

as a hypothetical nationwide declaration of martial law.

Even though the powers that be could perhaps shut off infrastructure such as water, electricity, etc, thus effecting a populace in similar ways as Katrina did, the problems were compounded by environmental catastrophies such as 8 plus feet of water, homes smashed, roofless, or completely washed away.

Also, martial law would differ insofar as military/law enforcement probably would patrol the streets straightaway (or attempt to). Curfews would be implemented, gatherings of groups of people prohibited (insofar as possible), but stores would probably remain open (under guard) or food distributed.

Look to (post-invasion) Bagdhad for examples of how a major city/population in the US might fare under martial law. That's basically how Bagdhad's been run by U.S. military since the invasion.

Take into account an "insurgency" and house-to-house searches by military/law enforcement and you have yourself Iraq in the good 'ol US of A.

[Blackhatjack]

44. It will likely follow a 'terrorist attack' on the homeland, and sold as only temporary....

...but you know how that goes. What was at first only temporary can last years and years.

WHen Musharraf was a military leader, and became leader after a coup that deposed the Pakistani government, he said it was only temporary until democratic elections could be held. How many years ago was that? He is still in power today. And the US considers him to be an ally in the so-called war on terror.

It would not surprise me to see Bush declare martial law, suspend elections in 2008 in the name of security--while all the time stating it is only 'temporary.'

Add to that the MSM echo-chamber supporting Bush.

It will not be brute force that makes 'martial law' work. It will be the shaping of public opinion and fear.

[mvd]

46. We should all have plans to sneak out of the country

just in case.

[WinkyDink]

47. I think it would be very easy. I saw a minority of armed mounted police in NYC

use night-sticks and metal barriers to subdue and contain a MUCH, MUCH larger group.

A couple bullets and real death, and voila'.

[cali]

58. Balderdash

Even if you could control NY, LA and Chicago, that leaves hundreds of other cities, and dozens of states. And who says all the cops would go along? I can tell you right now you couldn't establish Martial Law in my state.

[BreweryYardRat]

50. Quit being paranoid.

It ain't gonna happen. It's a one in a million or more chance.

And if by some freak of horrific bad luck it does, I'll shoulder my polearm, strap on my sword, and tap out my bank account to buy a shotgun, a rifle, and the necessary materials for explosives. No one is going to make me disappear.

Edit: I'm not going to start shit, but I have a fairly healthy paranoia about my own safety. And I will act to protect the rights/safety of others (i.e., a protest being attacked.)

[SlowDownFast]

51. Right of Revolution/Despotism

We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the governed.
That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is in the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security.

-Declaration of Independence

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

------

"the Tree of Liberty must be watered from time to time with the blood of Tyrants and Patriots both"
-Thomas Jefferson

[Strawman]

54. Why would he need to?

He has his war inspite of the fact that over 70% of the public opposes it? Why go all hardass when soft discipline is so much more effective?

[sofa king]

55. Then all bets are off.

There's really only one path for real Americans if such a thing were to happen without good cause--and in the case of Bush's malevolent government it's a virtual guarantee that it would happen for political, not practical reasons.

That path is clearly defined in the document which is supposed to be the spiritual guide for our nation, the Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Unfortunately, if it comes to that, civil wars are never civil, nor are divisions and allegiances easily defined. Historically, tyrants, oligarchs and sociopaths are really only dealt with in two ways.

One way is to convince them that it's healthier for them to forever leave the country they are trying to subjugate. You can pretty much guess what the other way has to be.

[Javaman]

56. Before or after the economy collapses? nt

[Fovea]

70. Either way,

but for certain, afterwards.

It is difficult, usually impossible to run a command economy without martial law.

[EVDebs]

57. Executive orders, martial law, Rex84, Op CableSplicer Op Garden Plot

just goole up 'executive orders martial law' and get over one million hits

Just one, for example:

FEMA Concentration Camps:
Locations and Executive Orders
http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/2004/FEMA-Concentration-Camps3sep04.htm

simply substitute 'illegal immigrants' to 'dissenters' and voila !

[In Truth We Trust]

59. K&R Impeach NOW!!!

[leftyclimber]

62. I have a passport and I'm not afraid to use it.

I expatriated once for a job, I sure as hell can do it for this.

I'm seriously considering taking off if we have another Republic president selected, anyway. I can't take much more of this.

[yy4me]

64. What else are they going to find buried in the budget?

This old granny will get her backside to the nearest demonstration if this comes to pass. Bad back, bum feet and all. This cannot stand.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

69. martial law? LOL!

as my friend from London said of Bush "he couldn't even organize a piss up in a brewery" We have seen how useless the bush government has been in responding to terrorist attacks, hurricanes and peace keeping in foreign countries! I can't imagine that Bush would be able to get anybody in the military interested in carrying out martial law! Well maybe Cheney and his gun?

[dysfunctional press]

71. bush thinks that martial law means that the cops will be using kung-fu on lawbreakers...

which is why he thinks that it would be way cool.

[Amonester]

74. rumsferatu probably told busche about that new "microwave" weapon

that cook-disenters-from-a-safe-distance he's got posters of inside his "new" personal bunker at the trillions-of-dollars-R-missing pentagon...

is their a way to wrap layers of ice around tha waist??

[Edweird]

72. To anybody that believes that they would buy a gun if it happens:

You're dreaming.
Gun and ammunition sales under martial law are suspended. They can even be suspended in "times of crisis" which may include natural disasters and terrorist attacks. You need to be armed and proficient with any weapons in advance. (why put off till tomorrow what you can do today). Any stockpiles of weapons, ammunition, food, medical supplies,money, and fuel are subject to seizure. If you are gonna do it, keep it to yourself. It's none of your neighbors business, nor none of ours.
I believe that the armed members of the "30%" may support the fascists at first. However,once they realize that the government guns are also pointed at THEM as well, they may change their position. I am personally willing to bank on it.

[Fovea]

73. Your point about the 30% crowd

is probably valid.

I also recommend, for those who are able, the purchase of black powder weapons, which are not subject to the same waiting period as fireams.

While a non-trivial storage issue, black powder is easy to make ammor for, versatile, and also generally sub sonic in ballistics.

Is it more work? Oh yes, it is more work. But there is a lot to be said for being able get away in the smoke afterwards... ;)

One of my neighbors is a policeman, the other a prison official, and we shoot together sometimes at the same range. So much for anonymity. OTOH, I suspect under martial law, they might be allies rather than automatons.

[meldroc]

76. That's why you need to arm yourselves NOW.

While you still can. Everyone who is even slightly considering fighting if the government goes bad should own at least one weapon and have some training in how to use it.

[Eurobabe]

75. Feel really sorry for my family and all my DU friends in the US

It's why I am not in the US anymore. Who knows what this dumb fuck * has up his sleeve? It's lovely to wake up every morning in a functioning Democracy.

[liberal renegade]

77. As they say in New Hampshire

Live free or die! I grew up in the mountains west of Laramie Wyoming and there I will return, if need be.