Will George W. Bush put the kibosh on elections in the United States next year?
Frightened by Bush’s rapidly accruing personal power and the Democrats’ inability and/or unwillingness to stand up to him, panicked lefties worry that he might use the “war on terrorism” as an excuse to declare a state of emergency, suspend civil liberties and jail political opponents. People who have spoken out against Bush are talking exit strategy–not Alec Baldwin style, just to make a statement, but fleeing the U.S. in order to save their skins. “Do you or your spouse have a European-born parent?” is a query making the rounds. (If you do, you can obtain dual nationality and a European Union passport that would allow you to work in any EU member nation.) Those whose lineage is 100 percent American are hoping that nations like Canada and France will admit American political refugees in the event of a Bushite clampdown. To these people, whether or not the 2004 elections actually take place as scheduled is the ultimate test for American democracy. >>More Tim Rutten: A mighty rhetorica
