My Prediction for the 2016 Presidential Election Winner is it will be – – Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump, UNLESS…  Unless what?  There are many possibilities or scenarios that could transpire to prevent or delay either of those presumptive nominees from occupying the Oval Office.  Barring something unforeseen one of them will be inaugurated on Friday, January 20, 2017, and become the 45th President of the United States of America.  That is exciting to some and anathema to others but from my vantage point, that is the cold hard reality.  I realize that some believe that a third-party candidate or alternate candidate can garner enough support to throw the election into the House of Representatives, but I cannot envision a groundswell large enough to allow any of the potential alternative candidates to win electoral votes much less enough electoral votes to prevent anyone from achieving the 270 votes needed to win the election.  That is my view, and you may or may not share it.

Back to the UNLESS that could prevent or delay either the Republican or Democrat from becoming President, what would have to happen to suspend, prevent, or delay the elections?  To suspend it, would take an incredible overreach of powers by either the President or Congress to achieve that objective.  There is nothing in the U.S. Constitution addressing the question of “wartime elections” and that means that the elections must be held even if we are in a war.  We have held presidential elections during a time of war both declared and undeclared.  Check the historical record and discover that elections were held during the War of 1812, Civil War – 1864, Philippine-American War – 1900, World War II – 1944, Korean War – 1952, Vietnam – 1964, 1968 and 1972 and the second Gulf War – 2004.  Therefore, even a war would not be sufficient to suspend the elections constitutionally.

There is the theory that Barack Obama will somehow find a way to declare “martial law” before the elections and suspend or delay the outcome.  Martial law is a very extreme and incredibly rare measure designed to control society during war or times of civil unrest that have reached levels requiring extreme measures to keep the peace and safety.  The Supreme Court has ruled that “martial law” has no precise meaning and that is frightening.  Yet, martial law nationally has only been done once by Abraham Lincoln at the beginning of the Civil War and regionally during WWII.  It can be declared by the President or Congress and Congress has never declared martial law.  It has been used by Governor’s but nationally it is an extremely rare measure but possible.  However, I am sure it would be challenged and fast-tracked to the Supreme Court were this president attempt to use it to stop the election or delay the outcome.  Would it be upheld?  That remains to be seen and in light of some recent decisions of the Court it is cause for concern.  However, were martial law to be imposed, I suppose there could be such restrictions enacted and mandated that it would prevent many from being able to travel to a place of voting to cast a ballot and skew the outcome significantly.  Again, this is hypothetical not a factual projection of what I think is going to happen.  I believe that this president and those pulling his strings and serving under him have examined every possible scenario and I would put nothing past him.  I would not be surprised if this tool of destruction were to attempt to declare himself Emperor of America.  But that would require another possibility.

To suspend the Constitution and elections and have it stand would require a Military Coup and I pray there is not enough support in the military for that to become a reality.  Barack Obama may create a crisis so significant that the public becomes willing to accept a suspension of elections and martial law out of fear but I cannot envision a scenario in which ALL CITIZENS would agree and thus another Civil War would be the result.  Were there to be a military coup and Barack Obama declared Emperor the violence and our streets would run red with blood.  That is a scenario I pray never happens and I still have enough faith in our military that there would not be sufficient support to carry out such an objective.  I have enough faith in the American people that this could never survive as a real possibility.  Do I think this president or Hillary Clinton would pursue such a scenario?  Absolutely, if they thought it had any realistic chance of succeeding.  Neither would risk being deposed and overthrown because as the elected President, they can cause incredible harm to our Constitutional Republic as we have witnessed over these past eight years.

Therefore, barring something so drastic and dramatic that would bring America to a state of turmoil and chaos never witnessed in our history, either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton will be the 45th President of the United States of America.  The question is, “What Say You in November?”  If it is a certainty that one of them will be President, which one do you choose?  I have friends that say NEITHER and are adamant that it does not matter because at that point America is lost.  I pray that is not the case and will continue to pray fervently for my nation, examine the candidates as thoroughly as possible, and follow my conscience in November and I believe you will as well.  My request is that we PRAY, PRAY, and PRAY some more for God go guard and guide our nation.  I truly believe that America’s future and survival are hanging in the balance in the 2016 Elections and by that I mean ALL THE ELECTIONS from local to national.

God bless you and God bless America!