How likely is it that the W Administration will concoct some international crisis as a hail mary?

[cloudythescribbler]

Poll question: How likely is it that the W Administration will concoct some international crisis as a hail mary?

Polls clearly show that the more the election focuses on the economy, especially an economy in crisis so easily laid at the GOP's feet, the better Obama does. By contrast, it is argued cogently by many that the more people are focused, in fear, on international relations, terrorism, war, etc (other than simply getting out of Iraq), the better it is for McCain. Clearly the reality than an atmosphere of "security crisis" of some kind might be the ONLY way that McCain could even come close enough to winning at the polls for the election to be stolen is not lost on the W Bush Administration.

Also, the notion of accusing the president of starting some major crisis situation, when he cries "emergency" is apt to be treated with outrage in the MSM, and in turn pose a serious problem for 'swing voters' in swing states. The temptation might be enormous.

But there are a mere two weeks and several days to go until election day -- so any international MILITARY/SECURITY and/or TERRORISM crisis would have to be concocted fast, if it is going to happen.

What are the chances of such a crisis "happening" in the next 2 1/2 weeks?

Poll result (90 votes)
0-10% chance -- Even if W is unethical enough to do that, the ruling class wouldn't let him	(28 votes, 31%)	Vote
10-30% chance -- a serious possibility, but not anywhere near a likelihood	(5 votes, 6%)	Vote
30-50% chance -- it's a strategy no doubt being seriously considered by the GOP leadership as you read this	(9 votes, 10%)	Vote
50%-70% -- More probable than not, W just needs to think he can get away with it	(28 votes, 31%)	Vote
70%-90% -- unless something happens now to stop it, it's practically a done deal	(12 votes, 13%)	Vote
90%-100% -- the question isn't IF, but WHERE?	(7 votes, 8%)	Vote
It's the apocalypse	(0 votes, 0%)	Vote
Other (see comment below)	(1 votes, 1%)	Vote

[Sanity Claws]

1. But we're already in an international crisis?

Doesn't this one count?

[Warren Stupidity]

5. I guess not.

How many global crisis does it take?

[TwilightGardener]

2. I said 30-50%: there's a reason McStupid keeps "warning" us about the Ukraine

during debates--he wants to go on record for being prescient.

[frogmarch]

3. I guessed 50-70%

I can't help but think there's going to be some kind of terrrrr alert soon.

[TheKentuckian]

4. They are talking something we can deploy troops to resolve

I think it will be an epic fail for them to try this though as it will likely just create more distrust for the GOP.

Eventually, their is a cumulative effect of the constant crisis that are usually evidently self created. They should be wary of this move as Obama has closed the CiC gap considerably and has significant advantages in most other areas. Another crisis at this point might actually further doom the entire Republican brand.

[drb]

6. By the time the "crisis" is past, you won't need...

...to worry 'bout no fuckin' election.

You'll just need to worry about three things:

Guns

Ammo, and

Food

Dick Cheney will see to it that there won't be an election. W will have to be quick on his feet to avoid gettin' in Cheney's way.

[cloudythescribbler]

7. KICK

[gravity]

8. George Bush has no power anymore

He couldn't create a crisis if he tried.

[Bullet1987]

9. DING! DING! DING!

Bush isn't going to create anything anymore. This is 2008, not 2004...Bush is lamer than a lame duck.

[RichardRay]

10. Slim to none, and Slim just left town.

They don't have anything in the bank, the tank or the ranks to use to react to any kind of a surprise, manufactured or otherwise, that's one of the damning indictments of the Current Resident and his cronies. All that would ensue now would be a groundswell of disgust at yet another failure; they'd probably have to move the Inauguration up to Thanksgiving.

[truthisfreedom]

11. They can't afford to do anything that might shake the economy up even more.

It's so ridiculously unstable that there's no room for shenanigans.

[grantcart]

12. These bank failures have them honestly scared. I think that it is more likely

that to Bush administration is so scared about what is happening that they would be more likely to do something to help Obama get elected because they are so scared

[Sebastian Doyle]

13. I'd say it's even money right now

Chimpy will pull something. I don't know if it will be before November 4 or after, but he's going to pull something before he leaves office.

Chimpy's entire pResidency has been about trying to one-up his Daddy. And Daddy left Bill Clinton the "going away presents" of Somalia and NAFTA. What will this piece of shit leave for President Obama?

The obvious guess would be war with Iran, and nobody is going to deny that the Likud pieces of shit in Israel will pressure Chimp to do exactly that, because they don't believe Obama will be as receptive to their warmongering, so they would rather have him inherit a war he didn't choose, than be able to avoid one.

[cloudythescribbler]

14. another kick

[TexasObserver]

15. With the economy in collapse, his numbers at 24%, I don't think he has the stomach for it.

My read on Bush is that he's ready to go home and screw off, probably get drunk for days at a time.

[vaberella]

19. You're being generous. MSNBC had him at 19% Favorability rating. n/t

[crankychatter]

16. three months ago I would've said 80%... now near zero

It won't help

The GOP is responsible for a near decade of horrific crap culminating in the current economic disaster

people ain't going to get conned into placing an iota of confidence in them anytime soon

they're done

[regnaD kciN]

17. Do you mean a crisis that would swing the election to McCain, or...

...a crisis that would allow Bush to invoke Directive 51, impose martial law and cancel the election?

If he can do one, he can do the other. And I don't think anyone within the current White House has any great affection for McCain, or desire to give up power so that he can take it over.

Personally, a crisis dramatic enough to change the course of this election would have to be something huge like a bigger terror attack than 9/11, or the stock market dropping another 3,000 points and the entire economy melting down. And, given either one of those, my guess would be that Bush would invoke Directive 51, suspend the Constitution, and only drop martial law after the "crisis had passed" (and lots of opponents had been "disappeared") in a couple of years or more, so that we'd just decide the next election would be held in 2012, with Jeb carrying the G.O.P. standard.

[cloudythescribbler]

20. The idea would be to transform the political landscape (w/"emergency" as a limited possibility)

[vaberella]

18. 0-10%: W has absolutely ZERO credibility.

There's too much going on now. The economy is "cratering", Rice was on television because of the whole breaking the Geneva Convention laws and discussing "torture", Palin is a mess and shoes of scandal are raining down on McCain, McCain has been bashed by numerous Repubs because of racist incites. It's a mess. There's no way that W would be able to do it without Americans taking pause and asking a bunch of questions, and the Democrats going nuts on their ass. Pelosi would get her gang together of Merry Men and highjack the US from Bush because everyone would know what this was about. No way.

[cloudythescribbler]

21. KICK KICK KICK

[Overseas]

22. they know they've weakened the military too much

to really do anything serious.

I hope.

But now that they've privatized so much with their reckless mercenaries, perhaps I'm mistaken.

[CJCRANE]

23. Bush_Cheney have had 9/11, "shock and awe" and the "surge".

I don't think the military top brass will allow them to have another big set-piece.

[cloudythescribbler]

24. AnOTHER kick -- can I get to 100 respondents?

[cloudythescribbler]

25. 30 more respondents needed

[cloudythescribbler]

26. makin progress -- now need 20 more respondents

[swishyfeet]

27. Not very. Bush doesn't give a fuck anymore.

The end just isn't coming soon enough for him.

[cloudythescribbler]

28. Getting closer -- my goal is 13 more votes

[Hepburn]

29. Ain't happenin' cuz....

...the Pubbies are running FROM Dubya...and he would need them to pull of some stupid stunt.

JMHO

[cloudythescribbler]

30. Just TEN more votes needed!