Bush, GOP hoping terror card can save them from election drubbing

[sabra]

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/15441251.htm

Bush, GOP hoping terror card can save them from election drubbing


WASHINGTON - President Bush and the Republicans expect a stinging defeat in November, but they're betting the terror card saves them from an electoral debacle.

"The security issue trumps everything," a senior Bush official said last week. "That's why even though they're really mad at us, in the end they're going to give us another two years."

Nevertheless, many other senior Bush loyalists privately believe anti-Iraq and anti-Bush sentiment will cost the Republicans the House nine weeks from today, a doomsday scenario that would cripple Bush for his final two years in office.

"We'll lose the House," one of the party's most prominent officials flatly predicted, "and the president will be dead in the water for two years."

[whistle]

1. Watch for LIHOP and/or MIHOP events between now and November

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. There will all kinds of terra scares

but I don't think they can pull off another 'big' one. That was a one time event.

[Barrett808]

17. "We enjoy a severalfold strategic advantage on the ground."

What the hell is he talking about?

[Lasher]

41. I think they're talking about Rove's propaganda ministry (EOM)

[grytpype]

23. Why just a one-time event?

It must be pretty easy to plant demolition explosives in a skyscraper and blow it up, as you seem to believe happened on 9/11.

[DoYouEverWonder]

37. Because they needed the cover of Shock & Awe

to be able to pull it off.

[Higans]

52. Bush said "there hasn't been a terror attack since 9/11" ummm.... Anthrax!

oh, wait that attack hit democrats, and the Liberal media so I guess that was just part of the CIA's war on Terrorist.

[MGD]

67. Don't forget about the snipers in Maryland and Ohio.

[Nihil]

69. They were just gun nuts, not terrorists.

:hide:

(Edit: Not suggesting that all gun owners are nuts!)

[johnlal]

70. There hasn't been a hurricaine in New Orleans since Katrina either

But that doesn't make anyone feel safer.

[savemefromdumbya]

22. Terra exercises in Detroit and Chicago prior to 9/11?

[Donnachaidh]

2. anyone know where this '27 page TERRA report' is on the web?

GMA was whinging on about this report issued by the WH. I'd love to see what it says.

The press is sucking this up like it was crack.

[rodeodance]

10. prob. on the DHS??

[ixion]

3. gee, if * is such a non-partisan uniter, such a beer-chugging chum

why would losing the house 'cripple' BushCo?

hmmmmmm?

[Marblehead]

5. They still have an "ACE" in the hole

Diebold...

[bearfan454]

38. fucking eh ! nt

[texpatriot2004]

6. Sicko Rethugs always playing the Terrah card, fearmongerers nt

[WePurrsevere]

7. After a while...you get tired of being "played", then you get angry & then

you either leave or get revenge.

This November we'll see how many citizens are feed up with the emotional abuse and BS when they either don't vote at all or vote against those that they perceive have "played" them and messed with their minds by continuously trying to use "terror" to keep US in line much like an abusive SO or parent would.

[madame defarge]

8. Just keep saying...

"We're no safer now than we were 5 years ago..."

And when they say, "We're fighting them over there so that we don't have to fight them over here...", say:

We ARE fighting them over here. Every damn day.

- By allowing the NSA to listen in on our calls
- By being labeled as "terrorists" & fascists by those "leaders" in our country because we disagree with their "leadership"
- By taking our shoes off to get through security in airports
- By being forbidden to take normal, everyday articles of necessity like water, shampoo, & toothpaste in carry-on luggage on airplanes
...and so on...

[snappyturtle]

20. If the administration wanted, really wanted, to find "terrorists".....

they'd secure our ports and borders! I agree with you. I am more afeared of the government than I am of the Muslim Zealots!

[bearfan454]

40. Exactly !

Wide open borders are NO security at all.

[rodeodance]

9. wonderful headline

[rodeodance]

11. Repugs claim that Pelosi & Rangel would be "suicidal for the country" -

If the election were held today, a top analyst closely allied with the White House said, the Republicans would lose at least 20 seats, more than enough to make Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California speaker of the House and New York's Charles Rangel chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, which controls billions in government spending. A key Bush official called those prospects "suicidal for the country" - a theme Republicans will trumpet throughout the campaign.

[sofa king]

72. Maybe suicidal for Pelosi & Rangel

Considering how these folks have done business in the past. Did you know that the first anthrax victim to die was Robert Stevens, the fellow who published this picture in the National Enquirer?

[Eurobabe]

12. What kind of crack are these fools smoking?

Haven't they seen the new CNN poll?

Sorry, America is getting wifty to the terra card being played every election period...

[catmandu57]

13. We're being setup

See if there is an attack it's because we're not safe, and if there isn't an attack it's because all the illegal shit the deadeye administration has done really has made us safe. It's a fucking catch 22 solution.
I'm thinking that they will foil a setup attack just to keep the sheep bleating, it's our job to make even the most brain dead see this, a mihop is in the works.

[DeepModem Mom]

14. K&R

[gratuitous]

15. A lot of anonymous blathering

Fer crissakes, don't newspapers run "news" stories with named "sources" anymore? Everyone's a "senior official" or a "prominent official." I'd really like to know who it is in the White House who honestly thinks that "security . . . trumps everything." Does that person have any other duties or obligations? So, as long as another horrific terror attack doesn't strike at America's heart, the administration can just let every other aspect of the country go to hell? Talk about lowered expectations!

[Barrett808]

16. "Return to the Rule of Law: Vote Democrat"

One slogan rattling around in my head.

[The Wizard]

36. checks and balances worked well

for over 200 years. Suddenly with Bush in office the Constitution is to quote dear leader, "a Goddamn piece of paper." I wasn't a God damned piece of paper until Scalia wiped his behind with it when he issued a stay halting the recount in Florida.

[maxrandb]

51. How about; "I'm Not Scared Enough to Vote Republican!" n/t

[Barrett808]

53. Nice. n/t

[PADemD]

62. I like that!

Can I use it?

[maxrandb]

71. Absolutely!!!

Here's another that I like. "Support the War on Drugs! STOP LISTENING TO RUSH!"

[sofa king]

73. Or, "I'm not cowardly enough to vote Republican"

They just love that word, "coward." However, when applied to them it means, "had other priorities at the time."

[Barrett808]

54. "Remember when government worked? Vote Democrat"

Another one from my little brain.

[KansDem]

18. Doesn't matter. Bush still let them attack on 9/11...

"We'll lose the House," one of the party's most prominent officials flatly predicted, "and the president will be dead in the water for two years."

Doesn't he mean "brain dead?" And it's for a lot longer than two years (and not necessarily in water).

[savemefromdumbya]

24. maybe they are going to drown him?

[PADemD]

63. or IMPEACH?

[Borgnine]

19. So this will be their excuse this time.

Back in 2004, it was the "value voters" excuse to cover up why the exit polling was skewing towards a Kerry victory.

Now, when the GOP inexplicably remains in power once more, they'll say it's because the good Americans realized that they were strong on terror.

Watch for this bullshit. They're going to be pushing it hard in the media in the next few weeks.

[Lasher]

42. But they are actually weak on national security and here's proof.

I plan to use this as ammunition to fight against the outright lies that Junior has done a good job at national security. The fact is, he's been a collosal failure.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=116&topic_id=13211&mesg_id=13211

[savemefromdumbya]

21. so is Bush going to try to blow up Clinton's library?

Bush will be blamed if there is a real terror attack he'll try a fake one instead.

[brg5001]

25. It's time to blast these Fox-loving F*&^heads with this:

This was posted by me on the item about the Meet The Press "debate" between Sanitorium and Casey. So I apologize for the repeat if you read my prior post. But I feel strongly that our side needs to start talking like this, and I know that more of my fellow DUers will read it here.

WHAT CASEY SHOULD HAVE SAID ON MEET THE PRESS:

"Fine. If this is the most important ideological struggle of our time, then Republican strategies aren't working. For one, how can you justify demonizing over half the population of the United States that is opposed to the occupation in Iraq -- and by the way, that's exactly what is, a failing occupation that was never planned or thought through in the rush to war. Insulting your countrymen is no way to fight the most important ideological struggle of our time. Also, why the need to continue trotting out straw men on terror surveillance? We're all against terror, Mr. Sanitorium. I challenge Sen. Sanitorium right now to look America in the eye and explain how the framers of the constitution were appeasing terrorists by forcing the government to obtain probable cause prior to searches. Do Republicans believe that a secret American court can't be trusted to keep secrets? Obviously so. It's been said that those who will trade freedom for a little security deserve neither. Why is Sen. Santiorium opposed to our God-given, hard won freedoms? And how can we stand as a beacon to those who aren't free by defiling the system that guarantees those freedoms?

"I'm not saying that security isn't important, though. It is. So why is it that they have refused to allow Democrats to put forth bills that would help ensure our domestic security by screening all of the cargo that comes through our ports and stepping up operations at vulnerable nuclear and mass-transit facilities? And why have so many homeland security funds that should be protecting our citizens in the most populous regions been diverted to pork projects like the bridge to nowhere and costly electronic signs for county fairs? Meanwhile, on border security, rather than actually sitting down and doing anything, conservative Republicans have been busily gallivanting around the country ginning up fear -- OF MEXICANS, for crying out loud! We're spending hundreds of billions of precious tax dollars on domestic pork and this ill-advised conflict in Iraq while real Americans remain vulnerable every day. It's an inconvenient truth that Democrats have tried to point out, but the Republican majority won't allow any real debate. Sen. Sanitorium says that we can't leave until the job is finished. Well, the real job that needs to finished overseas -- and at home for that matter -- is the con job that the Repubicans have been pulling that they are committed to making us safer. Their only commitment so far has been to avoid admitting what all of us can see -- that their policies are destroying our unity at home and have created a fiasco overseas. And Sen. Santorum has the nerve to take credit that there hasn't been a major terrorist attack on our shores since Sept. 11. To me, that sounds dangerously close to "Bring it on!" Famous last words! This is not the time to crow and pound our chests. It's time to follow the Democrats' plan and commit the necessary money and manpower to homeland defense, while rebuilding relations with our allies. Slogans like "We're fighting them over there so we don't have to face them here," -- there's no logic in that. Who are they? The factions shooting at each other in Iraq weren't enemies of America -- until we invaded! Slogans are not strategies.

"Finally, I want Sen. Sanitorium to look me in the eye, face to face, and tell ME that I'm unpatriotic and want to see al-Quaeda and other religious extremists win this ideological battle. Do it, Senator. Tell me that I hate America. That's what you've been insinuating, and frankly I'm sick of it. He won't do it, Tim...because now the spotlight is on and he's running faster than a cockroach from a can of Raid. This politically planned strategy of questioning the patriotism of anyone who dares to challenge a president who has violated the Constitution, embarrased America, chased away our allies and undermined the very "war on terror" that he claims to be prosecuting so effectively, -- well, that's the hallmark of a coward. The real cut-and-run artists are Rick Sanitorium and other Bush loyalists. Face it, Rick. I know it's hard, but America has never been served by cowards who won't admit the truth. America deserves better than this and your tried-and-true strategy of calling us devils or appeasers or liberals isn't working anymore. We're smarter than that now. You're going to need a new act, and I'm going to help you find it by sending you packing from the Senate."

My question is, why aren't ALL DEOMOCRATS talking like THAT? We contine to allow the right to spew their vomit. It's time to scrape it up and throw it back at them.

[ktlyon]

47. thanks nice post

I agree. I wish the voices that do make it to the air that represent our side would hammer them like you did. Dean is doing well.

[yurbud]

26. So what day will they schedule the terrorist attack?

They got to be careful--this backfired on Aznar in Spain and got his ass kicked out of office.

[The Brethren]

27. cheney and rove,

juniors' personal neuron set are clever...why pay for political ads and still fail when they can just promote the terror card at the taxpayers expense and maybe frighten us into voting for them.

'"and the president will be dead in the water for two years."' payback is soooo sweet. I pray for that scenario if the supreme wingnut isn't already impeached.

[thoughttheater]

28. Terror Down The Homestretch

Not unlike a football game, voters are in the position to gauge the potential of each side to succeed. That process involves evaluating the game plans of both teams before placing ones bet (vote). The fact that most people bet on the favorite cannot be ignored. Many people like to see the long shot win the game or the horse race...but they rarely bet on that outcome absent tangible evidence.

The Democrats may be the sentimental favorite as voters may have grown tired of seeing the frontrunner run the table over and over...but if switching ones bet is predicated upon personal safety (terrorism), it may well mean voters will enter the ballot box and choose the Party that has a track record of winning even though they may not like the way that Party has executed the race.

This midterm election may turn out to be a Seabiscuit moment...but the GOP and their "War Admiral", George Bush, a "Man O'War"...may be an all too terrifying obstacle.

Read more here:

www.thoughttheater.com

[truthisfreedom]

29. GOP praying for a terror attack... that's the REAL truth. they don't care

about a safer America. they care about a more FEARFUL America.

[Deep13]

30. The polls I am seeing show a GOP bloodbath in November.

Even some shoe-ins like Lincoln Chaffee are in trouble. One poll in Ohio shows Congressman Strickland (D) 25% points ahead of Blackwell (R-asshole) in the governor's race. I don't think the terrorist card will save them either. People have gotten a little callous about the issue and no longer trust the Rs to protect them. Again, here in OH, an ad for Sherrod Brown (D-13) implicitly blames Sen. Dewine (R-clueless) for Sept. 11. Brown is ahead too, but by a narrower margin.

This London plot demonstates the point that the Rs are clueless on terrorism. This recent plot was foiled by Britian, not America; by police, not the military; and using police tactics, not by spying on the population. Further it demonstrates that five years after 9/11, the possibility of a sky-jacking is still a problem.

[berni_mccoy]

31. NOT GONNA HAPPEN: WHEN THIS GET'S OUT ===>

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2045192

They are going to have a very hard time explaining WHY THE BLOCKED CLINTON from PROTECTING US FROM 9/11.

[rrasile]

32. Go George, go.

I'm hoping for the doomsday scenario because it's sure to cripple Bush for his final two years in office. This will help because the people will see how the terror card is being played when we should either kick some ass over there or make plans to ease the hell out.
It's funny that when we needed to put our Government to work on Terror the Repos were quick to dump all over Clinton and our country.

[warrens]

33. Things could get a lot worse by November

A lot of Bush voters are hoping he can give them some reason not to regret their votes. If he doesn't come up with something (and screaming terra terra terra ain't going to cut it), they're just going to stay home this year unless the race in their district is important for reasons other than supporting repukes. They're unhappy, feel like they've been used, but not about to become democrats. That points to low turnout by the GOP, while Dems are going to flood to the polls.

This could turn out a lot worse for the GOP than even the gloomy predictions right now.

[Imagevision]

59. If GOP lose in elections, Cheney & bush are lame ducks and oversight will

then allow new Bushco investigations to commence, Bush with no power would resign, Cheney with no power would resign citing health heart issues.

Imagine Bush with NO power...

[Bushladen]

34. Save them

Hell Bush and Cheney probably will attack us before the elections and then cancel them till further notice. You know "National Security" reasons. We need the team that will fight the terrorist to the end and if the election take place then their team is lost. I think everything they have done is just a test to see how far they can go. Illegal wiretapping, nobody cares, illeagal war nobody cares, no elections nobody cares. It's just a "Set Back" then when we kill all the terrortist then we will have those silly elections.

[ktlyon]

48. Did you know the Rethugs thought Clinton would cancel

the election too?

[tecullinan]

35. Send the soldier, but I want perfect safety!!

The part that gets to me is how the same security freaks that will respond to the scare them again tactics are the same ones who the most enthusiastic when it comes to sending troops into harms way. If our troops are going to risk all, we, the citizens back home, should be willing to risk a little for the sake of our freedoms and our democracy.

[RamboLiberal]

39. They've played this "Joker" once too often

Many of the sheeple are waking up as they are feeling the pinch in the wallet.

[Selteri]

43. It's pretty much the same thing he's doing in his speach

at 1:30 EST Tuesday Septermber 5th. The way he talks about Alqueda you would think he was taling about himself or the republican Party Neocons, Believing America is Decadant, unwilling to negotiate...

[xxqqqzme]

44. on the home page this headline is right under

this topic

'Number of Uninsured Children Rises; 8.3M Lacked Health Coverage in '05'

That's why they are losing - its the complete lack of domestic policy in addition to the 'bully in the school yard' foreign policy. Trickle down economics really, really, really doesn't work (I thought that was discredited under st ronnie) and straussian guided policies do not work when trying to pretend this is all a grand democracy.

[Supersedeas]

46. shhh....the Corp Media has some odd ball news to share with the Electorate

[xxqqqzme]

49. have you noticed their deparation to seize on

any little odd ball bit? I saw the Agassi-Becker match, heard Andre's heartfelt speech; ot a little teary over it. But it has now been covered, referred to, reported on ad nauseum. He is a 36 year old man retiring from a GAME! It was even covered on the local news and I'm in California! FCS!

[brg5001]

55. Anything except real news, xxqqqzme

Steve Irwin, Andre Agassi, Jon Benet, that punch-drunk lady who got a little out of control on a plane two weeks ago, the Emmy Awards, the MTV Video Awards, the guy who traded the paper clip for a house, Katie Couric, the death of the leader of "al-Quaeda in Iraq" as if that's genuinely a real al-Quaeda operation, the MSM will fixate on anything as long as it really doesn't matter. As long as it's not important, as long as it's not real news, as long as it doesn't involve a serious voice of dissent -- whether it's from a decorated military general, or Ned Lamont, or a writer for The Nation, NO DISSENT IS ALLOWED unless it's termed extremist, dismissed and immediately ignored so that we may present -- some "shocking" story about The View, or Paris Hilton, or some celbrity's latest gastrointestinal problem or plastic surgery. Nothing matters. By the way, the new fall season is getting underway, America. So, get ready for an abundance of diversions from anything that really matters, all presented under the guise of NEWS from your Mainstream Corporate Infotainment media.

[madrchsod]

45. who they going to cut a deal with?

bin boy or hezbollah? or do they have their own team ready to create a terrorist attack? by the way where is that anthrax killer?

[DinahMoeHum]

50. Hey, George! Neah neah-neah neah neah. . .

n/t

[Qutzupalotl]

56. So what's our game plan? Attack their strengths!

Right out of Rove's playbook...

People think Republicans are strong on defense? Remind them that the world is less safe due to this administration's neglect of port security, mismanagement of the war, attacking the wrong freaking country I mean come on, failure to plan for resistance, failure to plan an exit strategy, and so on.

People think Republicans are trustworthy? Remind them that they raised corruption to an art form by building the largest organized bribery scheme of any congress in history, all exclusively by and for Republicans. Remind them that when we find dishonest people in our ranks, we reprimand them, take away their committee assignments, and let the law take its course. When the Republicans get caught breaking the law, they try to change the law retroactively or change the House ethics rules.

[classysassy]

57. " The Russians are coming"

sorry heard that one before." The republicans are leaving", the sweetest sound i've heard the past five years.

[neuvocat]

58. You said it better than I thought it.

Its just the sort of dialog that makes people so jaded, especially when they have domestic problems that are long overdue.

[Donkeykick]

60. They Will Ride This Idea As Far As They Can Take It.

[Xenotime]

61. The only Terror comes from the administration.

[orleans]

68. (damn! i was going to say the same thing!) n/t

[ryanmuegge]

64. Actually, the economy is the top issue, according to polls

So, no, security doesn't "trump" everything. Fucking idiots.

[HuffleClaw]

65. i've gotta say its nice to see the media even discussing the POSSIBILITY

of a republican loss. i've sure gotten tired of their constant fawning before bush and their blind support of the 'war on terra'

[Anakin Skywalker]

66. TERRAH TERRAH TERRAH

24/7.

[PaDem]

74. November

"The security issue trumps everything," a senior Bush official said last week. "That's why even though they're really mad at us, in the end they're going to give us another two years."


If this happens, then this country deserves everything it gets. If this happens, it'll be so hard to work hard in 2008. If we can't make gains in both chambers come November, there is nowhere for this party to go.