Recipe For Sham Elections : Continutiy in Government

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7011-2004May6.html

Let us imagine that a bomb set off in or near the Capitol kills 350 of the 435 members of the House and is perhaps accompanied by simultaneous attacks in other cities, bringing chaos and horror and the need for a massive disaster response in many places. In the rubble of the Capitol, it wouldn't be clear for days or weeks whether many members were dead or still alive in the ruins.

Even when an accounting could be made, few Americans would want to focus on nominating candidates or conducting elections. Districts choosing candidates for Congress in 10 days would have no opportunity for primaries or party conventions; candidates would be chosen by a few party officials in the modern equivalent of smoke-filled rooms.

In the succeeding 35 days, as local election officials scrambled to prepare for the voting, the candidates -- without an opportunity to create staffs or raise money -- would wage a pseudo-campaign, directed at an electorate with its collective mind on many other things. And voters might lack mail, television or electricity in many places.

These elections, in other words, would be a sham: no chance for a range of candidates to emerge and test their appeal to the electorate; no chance for alternative voices; no real opportunity for debate and give-and-take. And of course, the 350 House members elected under these conditions would, if past experience is any guide, become incumbents with the ability to serve for as long as they wanted -- 98 percent would win reelection regularly thereafter.

on TV this morning (Meet the Press)
saying that we can't get rid of Rumsfeld
because to change leaders in the middle of this war
is not even thinkable

well I have some news for Mr Warner

and should have been written so in every election for a senate or house member, 2 candidates for each seat will be on the ballot..a primary candidate and a back-up candidate. The primary candidate will fill the seat in the house or senate and the back-up will take the seat in case of a monumental disaster. This would eliminate a need for an emergency election which would be fraught with possible hijinx.