What will the public believe about the "terror threat"?

[Don Claybrook]

All the polls say that a majority of Americans despise Bush. They hate his Iraq policy. They're not giving him much credit for any improvement in the economy, real or perceived. Most Americans believe Bush to be a liar.

So how are they going to react to this non-specific terror threat? I have no doubt that the ONLY reason this terror threat is happening now is political, and that it's being driven by the President's low numbers. Given that it took the general public so long to get to this point where they can't stand to see Bush on their televisions, it makes me wonder:

-what percentage of the public will dismiss this story as a political stunt, as I do? How many people really believe this story?

-for those who do believe the terror threat is real, what percentage will believe that a vote for Bush will somehow help to counter this threat? What percentage believe Kerry would do a better job at dealing with terror threats?

-how much of the public would decide that they're not going to "fall into Spain's trap"? Would some switch their votes BACK to Bush in order to "keep al Qaeda from influencing the election"?

-will a sizeable percentage of people blame Bush's Iraq policy for fostering more terrorism, or will those notions stay divorced in the minds of the public? Will the public be angry about resources going to a war in Iraq rather than for "homeland" security?

-In the event of a real attack of some sort, would Bush's numbers go up or down? Would he be held to blame, or looked to as a savior?

-Will the mainstream press continue to report this as a straight news piece? I have been under the impression that the mainstream press has been tougher on the criminals in the administration with each passing week. So far, I haven't heard any doubts raised by the mainstream press about this story. Is that something that we can expect to continue?

-Will the press ever demand something just a little more specific if they're to report on it?

-Will any anonymous intelligence sources let us know that these threats are bogus, or that we receive them all the time, but that they've chosen to publicize this one for political reasons? Some days it seems that there is no end to intelligence sources willing to leak information in an attempt to bring down the administration. Will we hear from them on this score?

This whole terror threat as a way to save the presidency for Bush has made me more angry than most of their antics. I guess I'm hoping that the American public sees through this ruse. Your thoughts on these questions would be appreciated.

[joeybee12]

1. Ditto!!!!!!!!!!!! I was just reading about this shit!

What a friggin joke! When Dumbo's numbers start dropping, pull out the fear card.

Why do people think he'll protect them when he couldn't do it before??????

[Eurobabe]

2. it's the only thing Bu$h has left to run on

in all the other categories he's tanked n/t

[Don Claybrook]

3. And he's tanked in the terrorism category too

You know it, and I know it. But what will the public at large think? I'm hoping they see right through it, but I'm none too confident that this will be the case.

[displacedtexan]

4. Imus says...

Oh, right. Uh huh. Whatever.

I'm paraphrasing, but that was the gist.

I think it's time to stop scaring old people!

[mopaul]

6. the bad part about crying wolf, when the wolf is there, no one cares

because they get tired of hearing bush cry terror all the time.
we will grow complacent and make jokes about it, gallows humor.

what color is the terror alert today, orange, yellow, puce?

meanwhile, it's all being set up for real i think. hope i'm wrong.

[Malva Zebrina]

14. MoPaul

laughing hysterically at your Bush bicycle-it is really funny-thanks for first laugh of the day.

[goddess40]

5. Nothing will stop me from going to Vegas

What are bush and co. going to let happen this time

[namvet73]

7. Threat level system is a tool....

I think the reporting of threat levels is useless to the average person.
I do not know anyone who knows how to be "vigilent." I often ask people if they know how they would modify their routine with a raised threat level. No one ever knows, especially without any specifics. What does that mean? Be suspicious of everyone that looks like a middle eastern? That's pretty tough in places like NYC where there is a large diversity.
A temporarily abandoned breefcase or knapsack is not that uncommon.

I do not see any practical reason for advertisements of security activity. They can do their jobs quietly.

I'm not denying that something can happen. I drove an enterprise rental panel van from NJ to Cincinnati, going under tunnels of the PA turnpike, parking it everywhere. No one questioned me or stopped me for an inspection.

Now, if it was reported that such and such a bridge or tunnel might be a target, they would close it down temporarily.

So, other than a "we're doing something so you need us" gimmick, I do not see what other purpose it can serve.

It's sorta like when people are being laid off around you and you feel your job is in danger, you try to look as busy as possible. If you don't have enough to do, you find something. As a person in the software development business, I would do "documentation" when things were slow.

This administration is in serious danger of loosing their jobs <smile>, so they have to their employer.. "us.. supposedly," think that we need them and not to bring in anyone new.

[DoYouEverWonder]

8. We need to let the world know that it's not al Qaeda

who is planning the next terror attack. It is Bu$hCo who is planning and running this one.

Bu$hCo needs a major distraction desperately. They need another Pearl Harbor and they need it now.

Will there be a terrorist attack in the US this summer. You bet. It's all part of the plan. The PNAC plan, that is.

[mopaul]

10. all the top officials have echoed the warning, not if, but when

every damn one of them has come right out and said it several times already, we ARE going to be attacked again, before the election.

i've seen at LEAST a dozen quotes from top officials re-inforcing this message. sure, it may be total bullshit, but..........

[DoYouEverWonder]

12. Yep, right on cue

Bu$h's speech Monday night was suppose to save his sorry ass and give him at least a little boost in the poll numbers. Instead those numbers continue to take a nosedive.

Now, just two days latter, all of the Bu$h loyalists are on the air squawking from the same script. They have a big dramatic event planned for this afternoon with Tootie and Muldune to crank up the fear factor.

The funny bit is they are going to focus all this on a guy that they been issuing alerts for since 9-11. This fellow is supposedly the next Mohammed Atta living in the US planning the next attack. His father claims that he lives in Morocco, teaching English.

[coltman]

15. maybe bullshit is correct...

but dubya is osb's best recruiter since Soviet's in Afganistan.A really big hit on us this summer would help the fear mongers on both sides.Prudence seems to dictate be ready.

[NMDemDist2]

9. i am watching each and every move Rove makes turn to

shit. You gotta love it. :)

[rex 555]

11. That horse is dead.

Beating it just shows how bankrupt these losers are. Ridge and Ashcroft can't turn back the calendar. The well is dry.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

13. It's just another in a long line of non-specific terror threats timed...

...to offset polls unfavorable to the NeoCons, or to distract the sheeples' attention from REAL stories about NeoCon corruption, greed, and overall wrongdoing.

[Malva Zebrina]

16. It is the most powerful Bush tool they have

No one can really refute the claim. The best defense against this would be to point out how Bush's ill advised rush to war has caused more terrorists to sigh up to Bin Laden's Al Queda and it is Bush's fault that we now find ourselves in the predicament of being in continual anxiety and fear over another major terrorist attack.

If it does happen, however that defense is not strong enough to stop Bush from propagandizin and taking full advantage of the fear.

If necessary, I believe there is nothing Bush won't do in order to stay in power and there is evidence over the past three years that he could give a shit about anybody in this country. He is capable of making it happen and then declaring Martial Law and suspending the election, in order to stay in power. I believe that.

Jeb used that power just before 9-11 and I have no doubt Bush will do the same if things look bleak for him.