There hasn't been another terrorist attack since 2001 on US soil

[funkyflathead]

How does the Democratic nominee counter this?

How does he/she negate Bush saying "see we haven't had another 9/11"?

How does the Dem plan to maintain that and convince the US sheeple he/she will?

[TNOE]

1. Simple

there should have never been one. But with Bush not funding Homeland Security like he promised and not funding NY, etc. - it is easy to see he has not really done anything to stop it. One too many happened on his watch.

2. By asking

What exactly they have done that has prevented an attack, that is significantly different from what anyone else would have done?

By commenting that things that they have done that are different (such as war in Iraq) have actually increased the likelihood of an attack. Some candidates are already saying this.


By asking If you are responsible for there not being an attack, why didn't you stop the first one?

[SeattleDem]

3. simple - what is the frequency of al qaeda attacks in the US?

the first one was in 1993 (WTC bombing) - it took 8 years for 9/11 to happen after that.

They are slow and methodical. Lack of another attack in 3 years proves NOTHING.

Chances are, they are plotting another event now, to be carried out in a few years.... Certainly our war in Iraq isn't interfering with their ability to make plans. Maybe if we had stayed concentrated in Afghanistan, put pressure on Saudi Arabia, and rooted out qaeda operatives in Pakistan, we could feel like we were thwarting a future attack.

[brainshrub]

4. The real reason we havn't had an attack

is that little Lisa Simpson gave me a magic rock that keeps tigers and terrorists away.

It really works!

We haven't had any terrorist attacks lately, have we?

[KFC]

10. You should have given that rock to Roy

If it works for tigers.

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

14. I would like to BUY that rock from you.

Will it also eliminate the Homer tax?

[tom_paine]

16. Helms proposes Donut Tax

D'Oh!

[Robb]

19. Beat me to it!

Magic rock, indeed. :D

[SlavesandBulldozers]

5. i would counter by saying

"If I were President, I would be more attentive to my Intelligence infrastructure and 9/11 would not have happened. When we look into the days preceding 9/11, and the warnings from various intelligence services, we can see that the President let the American people down that day."

[Tom Rinaldo]

6. The World Trade Center was attacked twice.

After a many year interval, they got it the second time. The first attack (bomb in the parking garage) had been forgotten by many by then.

[Terwilliger]

7. We haven't had an attack because there hasn't been one planned

it's been physically demonstrated that people with a "dirty bomb" or somesuch CAN get into the country, so it has NOT been on account of some diligence on Bush's part

[Parche]

8. attack repeat attack

Because of their inept defense of the US, the terrorist attack
of Sept 11th should never have happened.

All we have to do is maintain proper security in the world
Dont act like bullies, like this administration is.

After all didnt he take a 30day vacation in Crawdad TX
after only 6months in office????

[TahitiNut]

9. "Keeping the elephants away."

Walking through a local park, I saw an older woman tearing small pieces off dollar bills and throwing them up in the air, letting them scatter in the breeze.

Curious, besides being somewhat concerned about the litter, I strolled up and asked her "Why are you doing that?"

She answered "It keeps the elephants away."

Waving my hand around, I observed "But there aren't any elephants around here."

With a knowing look on her face she replied confidently "See? It works!"

[Philosophy]

20. The average voter doesn't understand logic

And I'm sure Bush understands it even less. If his oppenent answered like this in a debate he would probably just call it fuzzy math and mumble something incoherent followed by "...can't get fooled again."

[TahitiNut]

24. Lack of familiarity often breeds contempt, too.

While initial reactions of many to the unfamiliar use of logic and reason may be memetically jingoist, I believe there're 'grassroots opinion leaders' within and among the most basic social groups in our culture. These are the people who, while also possessed of kindred visceralism, amalgamate that with some appreciation for valid logic. It is that audience that should be more often addressed, imho. They have the greater impact on opinion in their small social groups than others. (In the land of the blind, the myopically one-eyed man is King.)

There is nothing to infer that our nation's actions haven't increased the incentives of terrorism far more than the opportunities. I personally believe it's no contest. This will become evident sooner or later.

[TheBlob]

11. Republicans didn't understand (nor care about) terrorism

during the 8 years they were sniffing around Clinton's crotch and they don't understand it now.

[MoonRiver]

12. The worst one in US history occurred under bush*'s watch,

that's how. And *'s witholding of crucial information regarding what really went wrong pre-9/11, is something Dems not only can, but have a moral and civic obligation to, use against His Lowness.

:wtf:

[Screaming Lord Byron]

13. The WTC attack was a one-off, a unique event. n/t

[ElementaryPenguin]

15. Simple! There shouldn't have been one at all!!

Only on the BFEE watch did one occur - when defenses were intenionally let down!! BASTARDS!! No other administration ever fucked up so badly on a national security issue!

[Tom Rinaldo]

17. We won't be able to prevent every attempted attack

Too many people hate America and have too little to live for other than their cause. However making every effort to prevent attacks, which Bush is not doing, would make a huge difference in avoiding most.

How do you think it would effect the Presidential race if there was a major terrorist attack on the U.S this Summer, maybe timed for July 4th? I am NOT predicting this, but what do you think it would do to domestic politics if another attack did happen before the elections?

[jokerman93]

18. I suppose the unsolved Anthrax attacks

weren't technically Terorism since the weapon was manufactured by the CIA and deployed by ...oh, I forgot, they didn't catch the perp in that case either, did they? Mmmm...

Osama?
Saddam?
Anthrax Guy?

I say the Republican led administration is REMARKABLE for its consistent gross incompetance and back-peddling.

Simple. We haven't had another 9/11 because no one has attempted one yet.

And would you like to get into a point by point litany of all the reasons why Amerikaland is demonstrably less secure now than it was on 9/11?

[zbdent]

21. Biggest terrorist attack on home soil during the Clinton administration

was committed by a homegrown, white, military, rightwing mantra spouting male, who probably was getting an orgasm that GWB was the "president" while he was put to death.

The last terrorist attack on the US (not on home soil!) under Clinton was accomplished by two guys in a rubber raft laden with explosives. Very high-tech, well co-ordinated.

And don't forget all those precautions taken in the midst of crowds during the New Year's celebrations 12/31/1999-1/1/2000.

[thebigidea]

22. so JUST ONE 9/11 per term is supposed to be a GOOD!??!

[adriennel]

23. 1993 to 2001

are the dates of the first and second attacks on the World Trade Center.
plenty of international terror attacks in the meantime.