I think this election-delay trial balloon was a set-up

[troublemaker]

Because it's rightly assumed that Bush will try to steal the election if he can, the election delay inquiry leak has succeeded in getting everyone one on record making statements of resolve that elections must be held on time no matter what.

I don't think any Democrats could have handled this differently, so I'm not criticizing. (The best political moves involve putting your opponent in a lose-lose situation.) But I do think it's set-up.

I can think of no scenario involving a terrorist attack in the US between Halloween and the polls closing on November 2nd that favors Kerry. So here's the equation in front of Karl Rove: Terror strike = big short term Bush gain that rapidly decays over the hours and days. The right play is to make damn sure that if you do happen to hit the terror lottery nobody will be able to mess up your windfall by calling for a delay in the election. Delay means time to think, and a thinking electorate is not Rove's friend.

I personally think this is merely a low-cost piece of political insurance for the WH, but my reasoning is even more applicable in MIHOP scenarios. If you timed an incident for what you consider maximum advantage, wouldn't you want to guarantee that nothing fucked up the timing?

The best outcome of all of this is it might enable us to encourage Democratic absentee voting even more. Don't take a chance! If there is any disruption in the election turn-out will drop and all absentee ballots will count disproportionately. (The election terror meme itself is a raw turn-out inhibitor. They can't win without low turn-out.)

[unblock]

1. the BEST response would be

to say, "holding a safe, secure, and peaceful election is one of the foremost responsibilities of any government. if the president cannot assure america that we will have free and safe elections on the first tuesday in november, just as we have had every four years throughout our entire history, then the president has failed his office and he has failed his people."

[Wapsie B]

6. That needs to be our slogan.

If * has made us so safe, why are they even thinking about postponing the elections?

[Swamp Rat]

2. Well, I just heard Thom Hartmann interview Larry Klayman of Judicial

Watch (I know, I know who he is, Cato Inst. etc.). He was talking about loose, suitcase sized nukes taking out significant centers of population. Whether this is ultra-tinfoil-hat, or a set-up as you mentioned, it is nonetheless being floated on RadioPower.org. I heard it. Don't believe me and go look it up...

Bush is losing control and sinking in the polls. Moore's movie is starting to have an impact on the general, non-political populace. So many scandals exposed... Bush&Co are already showing signs of desperation.

[troublemaker]

3. They definitely want to scare people, and

if our populations were distributed evenly I'd love it, since Bush voters that believe all this crap would be the one's scared away from the polls.

Unfortunately Democratic voters are concentrated in dense areas where high-security measures will be most disruptive and where fears of terror are most legitimate.

[Digit]

4. A matter of perception..

IF there is a terror attack on our soil before the election, our perception should be that it is BECAUSE of this current misadministration.
The world has become a much more dangerous place due to the failed policies of boosh and the rest of his puppeteers.

Oh, and I have applied for my absentee ballot.

[troublemaker]

5. It should be, but if what voters *should* think was the issue

then the Kerry would get 100% and none of this would matter.

[Snazzy]

7. swing state, blue state terror

Some damn thing with a disproportinate gain. Hadn't thought of that. Still have elections, but Ohio, or Florida, or fucking California doesn't vote normally.

Not sure what the legal implications are, but you clearly don't want to leave to the Supremes. WTF happens if California doesn't report, ala Arnold? Can they be discounted w/o Congress?

Man, been staying away from this meme/spin/rw bs, but think you are on to something.

Scary.

(Edit: Clarify: I say 'fucking California' with kindness in my heart. I mean it is so damn significant. Will scope some of our rules to see wtf re: states reporting)