How is the OBL tape NOT a positive for Bush?

[NewJeffCT]

1) It knocks the KSTP tapes off the news right after a disastrous Pentagon news conference...
2) It knocks the Halliburton investigation out of the news...
3) It knocks the voting scandals off the nightly news...
4) It reminds people that 90% of them loved Bush in the days after 9/11 and how 70% of them like how he handled Afghanistan. Sorry, the outsourced capture of OBL at Tora Bora never took hold even though the WSJ recently confirmed it.

[Walt Starr]

It reminds everybody we went to Iraq while bin Laden was still alive

It reminds everybody that bin Laden is free to taunt us.

This is BAD news for Bush.

[BayStateBoy]

47. OBL Tape = Big Negatives for Bush

1. Tape condemns Bush's inactivity reading "My Pet Goat" as giving aid to the enemy (OBL). Says they were not expecting the extra time (20 min) to coordinate more attacks against America. See Reuters article for verification too.

2. OBL tape confirms absolutely OBL behind 9/11 with no mention of Iraq or Saddam

3. OBL tape is a painful reminder that Bush has failed miserably to capture/kill the mastermind who orchestrated the worst attacks on US soil.

4. OBL refuses to endorse any candidate saying neither can keep America safe, but he kicks Bush in the crotch about his "deer in the headlights" performance.

P.S. The other issues that you mention are not "dead," they will resurrect.

[AIJ Alom]

1. Because Bush said "I am truly not that concerned about him". He took his

eyes off the real war on terror to go after Saddam Hussein.

[Cats Against Frist]

2. It only helps when people MAKE IT A GIVEN that the tape helps

Bush. Thank you for buying into GOP false delimmas.

[Goldmund]

3. self-deleted

oops

[Goldmund]

4. It is a positive for Bush, by default

But it's also a roll of the dice, with an opening for the Kerry campaign as well. If handled skillfully, it can be a positive for Kerry, by reminding them that the ASSHOLE IS STILL THERE, healthy and fat and chillin'.

[Maple]

5. Oh be serious

billions of dollars, and thousands of lives later...bin Laden is still alive and well...while Bush is off in some Iraqi quagmire.

This is far bigger than any of those other things.

Bush just got punked bigtime.

He's protected nothing

[NewJeffCT]

punked?

Despite all evidence that Bush has been an unmitigated disaster fighting terrorism - record worldwide terrorism in 2003; 18000 new Al Qaeda members, near universal Islamic hatred & distrust of the US - Bush still has a commanding edge in the polls in regards to fighting terror.

I agree that it SHOULD be bad news for Bush - but, the media will spin it that we must rally round our War President in this time of need.

[harpo]

36. BS...no they won't....its BASHING time

[NewJeffCT]

11. punked?

Despite all evidence that Bush has been an unmitigated disaster fighting terrorism - record worldwide terrorism in 2003; 18000 new Al Qaeda members, near universal Islamic hatred & distrust of the US - Bush still has a commanding edge in the polls in regards to fighting terror.

I agree that it SHOULD be bad news for Bush - but, the media will spin it that we must rally round our War President in this time of need.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

15. Time Of Need...

The man made a tv commercial...


Where's the need?

[NewJeffCT]

17. it will remind people of 9/11

When most Americans wrongly think Bush was brave & heroic when he was really a fraidy cat.

[sonicx]

19. "i'm not that concerned about him" Bush quote

every surrogate should remind people of that.

[harpo]

37. reminders of 911 are good, not bad...reminder that he hasn't caught him!

[SammyWinstonJack]

39. I didn't realize that Americans had forgotten about 9/11?

How can we when the chimp reminds us daily? Not that we should or would want to forget. What Americans should be reminded of if they already don't know, is what a coward the chimp was on 9/11. That coupled with his not getting OBL and OBL appearing on tape when he should have been "marginalized" should hurt the chimp.

[cubsfan forever]

6. All it does is appeal to Bunnypants' base

and they would vote for him regardless. No Democrat is going to change their vote because of this, and no Independent will, either.

Professor 2

[NewJeffCT]

23. Bush had high approval ratings in the months following 9/11

I think you'd be surprised at how much things can change.

[cubsfan forever]

29. I'd be surprised in any Dem or Independent

changed their vote on this Very, very surprised.

Professor 2

[harpo]

38. doesn't matter what his ratings were or are...he is a FAILURE!

[sonicx]

7. Gee i dunno

cuz it shows that Bin Laden is alive and ignored?

[Me.]

8. Well For One Thing

The tape states that * was so slow to react, sitting in the classroom reading as he did, that it gave them 3x the amount of time to complete their mission. They never expected to have that extra time. He's also says they never expected that the citizens would be left to fend for themselves.

[kostya]

9. It might knock some other stories aside slightly, but the

explosives one is going to grow on its own anyway. There were other unguarded sources of explosives and munitions stories trickling out.

I don't think the Halliburton story needs more coverage, it's had 80% of its impact there will be no juicy details for some time.

What the OBL story does is add one more straw to the camel's back and a pretty damn big straw at that! One could put a diabolical spin on it (RNC probably already out with this) that since OBL is basically endorsing Bush that he's really trying to influence the election to Kerry's benefit because that's what he really wants. It would take a freeper to come up with that but I don't think that sort of twist is going to sit well with voters when the obvious counterpoint is: Kerry was right all along and here's proof in the form of what my own eyes are seeing! - K

[goodhue]

10. It reinforces concept that Bush has been fighting war on terror wrongly

Missing explosives, sweat heart deals for defense contractors, 1000s dead, yet OBL is alive and well. Bush has wrong priorities.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

12. People can multi-task

In totality, Bush has blown the war on terror. OBL raising his head just proves it.

[mumon]

13. Go to my blog and look up the entry with

"Tenzo Kyokun" in it.

Use everything.

It does what you say, but it brings back front and center the biggest failure of Bush: he failed to make us safer!

[Clinton Crusader]

14. its' just one more BAD thing for to add to the shitload this week

They were trying to ignore him, claim they dont care about him, even speculation he was DEAD. WRONG. He looked pretty healthy to me. This is BAD BAD BAD for asshat all the way around.

[flpoljunkie]

16. I disagree totally. An all too vivid reminder that USL is still alive!

And that Bush took his eye off the ball and went to war in Iraq--which is, as a result of Bush's ill-conceived and executed war, now a terrorist haven.

[nine30]

18. Forget missing explosives..this is lethal ammunition for Kerry

JFK has said over and over again..that Iraq was a Grand Diversion.
And damn straight it was. And here is LIVING proof that it was.

Saddam never actively plotted against the US..and the US spent 100s of billions of $$$ and 1000s of lives on a fruitless mission that has left us weak and less secure. And all of a sudden up props Osama reminding us that the real warror on terror was abandoned long ago.

There is lethal amunition for Kerry if he can play his cards right.

[harpo]

20. ANOTHER CHIMP FAILURE!!!!

the other stuff will pile on as needed but this shows ANOTHER screw up in IRAQ

[nostamj]

21. maybe something like THIS..................

if I could write Kerry's response:


It doesn't matter WHAT the terrorist behind the horrendous 9/11 attacks said today.

What matters is that he is still alive and free to make new statements.

There has been a great deal of speculation as to whether bin Laden was still alive.

All doubt was removed today.

While Saddam Hussein sits, who had nothing to do with the tragedy of 9/11, remains, however appropriately, in jail, Osama bin Laden remains free.

Free to attempt to influence our election process.
Free to plot new attacks.
Free to deploy the hundreds of new recruits emerging every day in the aftermath of this president's ill-conceived and catastrophically pursued, invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Free because this president allowed the necessary and focused 'War on Terror' to be diverted for an ultimately groundless assault on Iraq.

My opponent is running a campaign centered on twin, historic failures that have cost tens of thousands of innocent lives here and abroad.

The attack on 9/11 was a failure of this administration to protect you.

The "War on Terror" is a failure as terrorist attacks worldwide have only increased during his presidency.

The invasion of Iraq is a failure as this president's policies have put more weapons into the hands of insurgents and terrorists and increased an already unacceptable death toll for both our troops and their citizens.

I repeat, what Osama bin Laden had to say today is not important, that he remains free and alive to make a statement, is.

[iwantmycountryback]

22. Because he's still free and can make tapes

[NewJeffCT]

31. in case you haven't noticed

Every time something involving terrorism happens - new warning from Ridge, new bin Laden tape, etc - Bush's approval ratings go up!

[harpo]

41. go ahead...people are numb to that crap now

[VOX]

24. The majority of * supporters still think that WMDs were found in Iraq...

And that Saddam has ties to 9/11. The mere appearance of OBL invoking 9/11 and the twin towers is a plus for *. His administration has only survived by invoking fear.

The fact that OBL is still alive, and that Bush hasn't gone after him effectively, etc. really doesn't play all that well with such clueless people. These are people that are so ill-informed that they are even willing to accept the bald-faced lie that Bill Clinton was somehow responsible for the 9/11 attacks.

The sheeple will just think, terror, terror, terror. And when that happens, * gets an uptick in polls. Every single time.

My only hope is that, by now, nearly all voters have made up their minds how to vote.

http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?ItemID=17962
Clueless people love Bush
Studies show Bush supporters are misled on Bush policies and the news
by Molly Ivins
<snip>
It seems the majority of Bush supporters, according to recent polls, still believe Saddam Hussein had ties to Al Qaeda and even to 9-11, and that the United States found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Many of you are asking how that could possibly be, since everybody knows...

But everybody doesn't know. There it is. And if you are wondering why everybody doesn't know, you can either blame it on the media, always a shrewd move, or take notice that the administration is STILL spreading this same misinformation.
<snip>

[lastliberalintexas]

28. I agree, rez

With you and Jeff. I think that too many of the posters who think that this hurts Shrub live in a solidly blue state. Too many people on this board have absolutely no concept of what it is like living in red to purple country.

When the people are focused on terror alert BS, Shrub wins.

[VOX]

40. A Cornell U. sociologist found that terror alerts give * a 2.75 poll-boost

On average. IMO, this is precisely the desired effect of the release this tape. There may even be an actual warning issued in a day or two, to cement it.

http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/Oct04/terrorist.Bush.ssl.html
Government terrorist warnings boost President Bush's approval ratings, a Cornell sociologist finds
FOR RELEASE: Oct. 4, 2004
Contact: Susan S. Lang
Office: 607-255-3613
E-Mail: [e-mail]

ITHACA, N.Y. -- When the federal government issues a terrorist warning, presidential approval ratings jump, a Cornell University sociologist finds. Interestingly, terrorist warnings also boost support for the president on issues that are largely irrelevant to terrorism, such as his handling of the economy.

Robb Willer, assistant director of the Sociology and Small Groups Laboratory at Cornell and a doctoral candidate in sociology who expects his Ph.D. in May 2005, tracked the 26 times that a federal government agency reported an increased threat of terrorist activity in the United States between February 2001 and May 2004. He also tracked the 131 Gallup Polls that were conducted during the same period. He then conducted several time-series and regression analyses on the relationship between government-issued terror warnings and Gallup Poll data on approval ratings of President George W. Bush.

"Results showed that terror warnings increased presidential approval ratings consistently," says Willer. "They also increased support for Bush's handling of the economy. The findings, however, were inconclusive as to how long this halo effect lasts."
<snip>
When Willer linked the warnings to presidential ratings from 2001 to 2004, he found that each terror warning prompted, on average, a 2.75 point increase in the president's approval rating the following week.
<snip>

[Zen Democrat]

25. It's ON TOP of the KSTP tapes -- OBL is alive and well after 3 years --

And ... he made the statement that neither Kerry nor Bush could keep Americans safe - so that part is a wash.

But the fact that he's still here and the Bush Administration has proven itself to be inept (again), this time with the explosives in Iraq, all adds up to NO GOOD NEWS FOR W.

[DefenseLawyer]

26. Well by that rationale any big story

is a positive for Bush because it knocks others out of the headlines. George killing Poppy with a ball peen hammer would be a positive too. Yes it reminds people of 9/11, but I think it reminds more people that we FAILED to capture OBL more than it reminds people that they "loved Bush" on 9/11. Not a positive, Lockhart and the boys have it under control.

[NewJeffCT]

30. I'm praying that you're correct

But, if they try to bash Bush over this, it could get touchy. The so-called liberal media will have Kerry's head on a platter if they get too aggressive.

[harpo]

35. Bash away...don't worry about the media..

[Lindacooks]

27. He's still alive! He looks healthier than Bush!

All of Bush's forces couldn't capture him! This just reminds people of who truly orchestrated 9/11, and that after spending hundreds of BILLIONS of dollars, bin Laden is still around.

[DoYouEverWonder]

32. This stunt is even better than the Mission Accomplished stunt

and this is going to back fire big time. Just you wait and see.

[cubsfan forever]

33. Hear, Hear! n/t

Professor 2

[NewJeffCT]

and it took how long before most realized the mission was not accomplished

At least several months, and it took until this year before a majority disagreed on Iraq.

we have 4 days

[harpo]

42. its all over the place...he didn't catch bin laden..he FAILED

[DoYouEverWonder]

51. That's alright

everything is going to be in hyperdrive for the next few days. Osama will be old news by tomorrow night.

[gcomeau]

34. Hello? TONS of missing military grade explosives, and now...

... we get confirmation Osama is still on the loose out there somewhere and in good health. And we can only HOPE he hasn't managed to get his hands on this stuff...

What part of this did you think was good for Bush again?

-Grant

[bobbyboucher]

43. You're nuts.

Only the loonies look at this and say, now I am really gonna vote for Bush. He's gonna keep me safe. He's a real tough cowboy.

What a bunch of trollup. Take this to the bank, everyone has already decided. We'll know on Tuesday.

[nostamj]

44. Bin Laden Alive = BUSH FAILURE

and that ain't fuzzy math.

[DuaneBidoux]

45. I don't think it necessarily hurts Bush. I think it depends on

how Kerry responds. Kerry needs to send one message over and over and over: The Terrorist who murdered 3000 of our citizens is still out there, but not for long when I'm President. Period. End of statement. That needs to be hammered over and over and over and over.

Don't blame Bush - just make it plain in the brevity of the statement that you will do what has not been done: get the man who did it.

[K8-EEE]

46. We Need Somebody Who Is Concerned About OBL!

Bush is not concerned about him, from what he said....and he fucked the whole 9/11 thing up.

Need President With Brain.

[realcountrymusic]

48. October surprise

was that OBL is alive and well?

Hmmmm. Either Rove is an evil genius or he has shit for brains. I vote SFB.

rcm

[Piperay]

49. A reminder that chimp LIED

to get us into war and OBL is STILL running around ... the mass murderer OBL got away with it and is FREE to cause more trouble. BAD for chimpy!

[Zero Gravitas]

50. Huh?

It reminds people that Bush let OBL escape.

[malaise]

54. The Tape

I've been lurking here for a month enjoying the vibe and really looking forward to November 2. Here comes the tape. Looks very suspicious to me - Osama always manages to show up when Dumbya is in trouble. Would love to laugh it off but what if someone wags this dog really well and claims to have found Osama come Monday.

If this is the October surprise, then this was well planned.
The key is to ignore this; focus on Kerry's supporters and make them vote - for the entire planet. This could be the greatest hoax in history.

[Robbie67]

52. It reminds people Bush hasn't done his job

people won't be scared because there's a new Osama tape (people with sense, anyway)

[LSK]

53. look at the yahoo messageboards

Anti Bush messages are getting huge Rec's

The people are no longer fooled after F911 and the IRaq DISASTER.

[hangloose]

55. Yes and NO but isn't that always the case

You make a good point in stating that the OBL tape replaces other negative news in the media. A plus for Bush. So were now left with one story rather than four. There’s not much spin for Bush as I see it. What can he do, rehash his same old terror, boggy man stance.

Kerry one the other hand could bring into the mainstream media, the lackadaisical Bush of September 11th, the out of touch GW. He can also open the discussion on policy and how our foreign policy affects every American. It's not about Hate of freedon or the average dude on the street, its about hate of american foreign policy. He can make hay with what this shrewd fanatic has placed in front of the American audience.

Is there any disagreement that this is about american foreign policy?

[Skittles]

56. it reminds people OBL is alive and taunting us

while our soldiers are being killed in IRAQ????