The misassumption most of us make, I believe, is to think that we can turn back the clock to the America we knew in the 90s if we just defeat Bush, and that the balance will then swing and things will return to "normal".

I no longer believe such a scenario is likely.

In fact, I don't think that the ultimate resolution of the "American Crisis" will be either nice or peaceful, and I think it'll happen a lot quicker than most of us think.

(Coincidentally I wrote a diary on Kos on this very topic yesterday.)

When Pinochet took over, the whole democratic system crumbled overnight. One doesn't forget things like that. When force is used, too many people have too much to lose to resist. You flee in exile or you turn a blind eye and hope you aren't next.

The right already think we're scum who should be rounded up and carted away; give them the boots to arrest, say, 500 liberals / enemies of the state, Kos, Gilliard, Molly Ivins, Billmon, Chomsky, etc., and I say that will be the end of the opposition.

The major questions of the day are:

1. Will the Right relinquish power voluntarily? Obviously, they'll use every by hook or by crook trickery before resorting to force, but there comes a point when they'll be faced with a choice: leave in disgrace & face possible criminal charges, or stay in power by fiat. Which do you think they'll pick?

2. Will the Military help the Right stay in power? Especially if the alternative is presented to them as a weakened country and/or treason? If they do, it's outright fascism; if they don't and rebel, it's a civil war.

Anything else is trivial, really. Those are the alternatives we face, I fear.

Arguably, we're transitioning from America 4.0 into America 5.0.