Surprise issue of the 2004 campaign?

[funkyflathead]

What do you think it will be? I mean an issue that isn't big now but becomes a major factor in the election.

[MasonJar]

1. 9/11, I hope. n/t

[frank frankly]

2. yup

Bush Knew

[Sir_Shrek]

3. Something candidate related

Someone will say something or do something or something will be found in a file somewhere, and a lot of hay will be made of it.

[benburch]

4. George W. Bush's mid-Spring trip to Rehab

For his drinking and drug problems...

[CMT]

5. 9/11 and Bush's boasting that the US is more secure

also the economy which as of right now everyone thinks is reviving will still have a struggle with jobs. Healthcare will be a big issue as well.

[alfredo]

6. Whatever it is, is being sat on

by some angry spooks in the intelligence community. timing is everything.

[Bucky]

9. I think the spooks are waiting to see who we nominate b4 taking sides

Bush could still be their choice over certain Democrats. There's also the possibility that Bush'll make peace with them before they do anything. If he doesn't try to make peace with the CIA, he's an idiot. Well, he's an idiot either way, but you know what I mean

[liberalpragmatist]

7. Gerrymandering?

Esp. if the SC rules it's unconstitutional (there's a case right now and observers say the many justices have been getting increasingly concerned with overt partisan nature of redistricting) than it could become an issue. Maybe even Proportional Representation, even a limited form, could be floated as a proposal. I'd love that.

[RandomUser]

8. Not sure if this is a surprise, but -- Trial of Saddam Hussein

If they can, they'll try to time it for near Nov 2004, to get the max mileage out of the whole successful wartime president bit. Heck, they might even announce the trial on the last day of the RNC convention in NYC on September 11, 2004. That way, they can tie 9-11 to the capture of Saddam and conflate the war on terror thing, offering proof that Bush is a successful president.

[HereSince1628]

10. US buys Sakhalin Islands from Russia.

[rogerashton]

12. That would be a surprise, all right.

Walrussia?

[ThomWV]

11. Afghanastan

This one is going to rear up and bite him on the ass just like it did the Russians. You have not seen anything like the end in that country yet.

Thom

[Crunchy Frog]

13. I already see it shaping up

to be about how mean those vicious Democrats are being to our poor, decent, godfearing president.

They'll portray him as an innocent victim of a hate campaign by the evil demonRats. Any criticism of him or his policies will simply be dismissed as mindless Bush hatred.

[loudnclear]

14. Bush not running....

Will step aside for...I can't quite make out the lie they will tell yet.