Lately, with the popularity of President Bush in the low twenties, and the Supreme court tilting toward the right, and no one trusting voting results, I wonder what it would take to spark a revolution, or a coup.

The thing with history is that nothing seems likely until after it happens. So if your first reaction is to dismiss this possibility because it’s unlikely, you haven’t studied history. Everything that happens is unlikely.

So what series of events could cause an uprising? While I am not predicting it will happen, I think it’s more possible than you think. Let’s say, for the sake of argument, the following series of events unfold:

1. McCain, behind in the polls, somehow wins the nomination and the general election.

2. McCain’s win causes mistrust in voting machines, for reasons either real or imagined.

3. McCain intensifies the war in Iraq because he thinks it’s the right thing for the country.

4. Protesters take to the streets in sixties fashion. There are clashes with police. The media makes this THE story.

5. McCain, one of our oldest candidates, dies in office from natural causes. His vice president assumes the job. The vice president, chosen to appease the conservative base, is the most right wing politician ever, and makes Dick Cheney look like Bambii.

6. The new Vice President cracks down hard on protesters. He starts suspending even more civil liberties. Martial law is discussed as if it is imminent.

7. An opening on the Supreme Court allows the new president to push a conservative into the slot. This moves the court completely to the right. All abortions are banned in the United States.

8. The war in Iraq spreads to Iran, where once again, no signs of nuclear weapons production are found. This added war is so unpopular with the rest of the world that allies start withdrawing from NATO to form their own defense club.

9. Strained by the war in Iraq, and now Iran, and potentially Syria, the American economy crumbles.

Now would there be a revolution? And which part of this scenario couldn’t happen?