Looking at the DKOS diary that would make it seem that the republicans, by attempting to make the bailout fail are trying to bring about the conditions for martial law as supposedly mentioned in the talk given by Poulson, and so subvert the election result.

Daily Kos: State of the Nation

Representative Sherman later revealed that members were warned that Martial Law would result if the $700 bailout plan was not passed, and Iguadland10 posted another video ascribing that particular warning to Paulson.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.