What If the Republican/Tea Party Coalition Wins in 2012?

This is strictly a hypothetical exercise based on events that are occurring around the world and in the United States. I have based the outcome of a Republican/Tea Party victory on current beliefs, wants and desires of these groups.

In January of 2012 the Republican party is locked in a tight race for the nomination between front-runner Rick Perry and Mitt Romney. Both have strengths and both have weaknesses. Currently, Perry is up by 5 points in the polls. Some of the lesser candidates have dropped out due to lack of funds, lack of support or both. We’re down to 5 candidates: Rick Perry, Mitt Romney, Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul and New Gingrich.

In the middle of January Greece declares bankruptcy and defaults. In short order several things happen. The Greek government declares a state of emergency and floods the streets of major Greek cities with special troops and security forces to maintain control.

The Greek Prime Minister in a nationwide speech declares that order will be maintained, by force if necessary. It’s necessary and the Greek security forces use live ammunition to quell rioting. Hundreds are killed or wounded; thousands are arrested and imprisoned in open-air prison camps.

The Greek banking system collapses after a run on the the banks. The government declares a bank holiday and closes all banks for an indefinite period.

The banking systems of the southern member-states of the European Union (EU) begin to collapse. Italy, Spain, Portugal and Ireland all default within one week. The forces of disintegration begin to tug at the EU. Because of the common currency, the euro, the poorer countries are unable to inflate their currencies and save their economies.

Member-states begin to unilaterally secede from the so-called euro-zone. It is a desperate gamble that turns out to be too late. Rioting workers destroy government buildings across the Continent. Governments, no longer have the confidence of the people, resign, leaving their countries rudderless.

Italy disintegrates into three separate regions: the north ruled from Milan, the center ruled from Rome and the south ruled from Naples. Sicily declares its independence and raises the flag of the former Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Spain disintegrates and reverts to its former component parts.

The banking crisis quickly hops the Atlantic and infects the American banks. They are heavily invested in Europe and were unable to extricate themselves from the financial catastrophe. American banks experience a run on them that is unprecedented. The Federal Reserve cannot print money fast enough and declares a week-long bank holiday.

The Obama administration is helpless in the face of this disaster. There are calls for Obama to resign. Joe Biden appears more terrified than Obama. In an address to a joint session of Congress there are calls from the floor for the President to resign.

In two short weeks the American banking industry is devastated. Obama withdraws from the 2012 election in the “interest of national unity”. Democrat candidates pop up like dandelions in the Spring: Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, Chris Van Hollen, Howard Dean and others.

The Tea Party coalesces behind Rick Perry and in a wave of patriotism he captures the Republican nomination. He selects Michele Bachmann as his running mate. The Democrats go with Al Gore and Chris Van Hollen.

In a massive tsunami of Republican and Tea party votes the Democrats are crushed nationwide at all levels of government. The Republican capture the Senate with a 70 seat victory. Their House majority is increased to 75% with the Democrats reduced to a regional party with members on each coast only.

So what would Rick Perry and his coalition do with overwhelming power? Here are some guesses based on their current beliefs.

Job #1 would be the passage of Balanced Budget Amendment. Within weeks of taking office President Perry would be signing the bill and sending it to the 50 state legislatures. Inside of a year it would be part of the Constitution.

Waivers of Obamacare for every state would be signed on the first day of the new administration. Within a month Obamacare would be repealed and replaced by the Republican free-market alternative.

A bill is introduced in the House to abolish the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and replace it with an agency that is more responsive to the economic impact of their work. Other Executive departments begin to experience a radical downsizing with furloughs of bureaucrats and mergers of overlapping departments.

The Tea Party movement begins to lobby hard for passage of their most popular positions: elimination of excessive taxes, elimination of the national debt, reduce budget deficits, reduce the size of government, protect free markets and others.

President Perry declares a National State of Emergency. He states that in the interest of energy independence and economic necessity all environmental regulations will be suspended for the present. He warns the energy producers that if they cross the line and endanger the lives and property of Americans they will be barred from further exploration in perpetuity. Refineries are approved across the country while drilling begins within six months off both coasts and in Alaska.

You may say that none of this could possibly happen but it already is. Greece or one of her European sister-states could trigger a fiscal crisis as I write this.

Right now Rick Perry is leading in the polls and irregardless of anything that he may say about Social Security appears to be headed for the Republican nomination. If Mitt Romney becomes the Republican nominee many of the same tings will happen after his inauguration.

George Bush declared a National State of Emergency on September 14, 2001. Barack Obama renewed it on September 14, 2009.

Most of the hypothetical actions that I have a President Perry taking after his victory are real. They have been called for by leading Republican or Tea Party figures including almost all of his rivals for the nomination.

Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction.