Olympics, terrorism and US Election...

[Napalm]

The snippet below got me thinking: one certainly hopes this does not happen, but what if there is a terrorist attack between now and the US election? How would this affect the election?

Would it boost Bush - he could now affirm that danger is everywhere and that he is the only one who can do anything about it?

Or, would it hurt him - Kerry could say that Bush is not doing his job on terrorism and that even worse, his isolationist and unilateral foriegn policy are to blame?

(AP) - ...Much attention has been focused on security for these Summer Games, the first since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. U.S. athletes are being warned to prepare for a hostile reception in Athens, and more than one-half of Americans surveyed in a recent AP poll say they believe a terrorist attack is likely. Four out of 10 say American athletes are most likely to be the target of any such attack.

Security remains the highest priority, with more than $800 million budgeted to protect athletes and fans. The main worries have been about international terrorists, yet last week's firebombing of two environment ministry trucks showed that dangers lurk within the country.

A group calling itself Phevos and Athena - the names of the Olympic mascots - said in a call to an Athens newspaper the attack was tied to the meetings of the IOC and the Association of National Olympic Committees.

"This is a welcome message to the members of the International Olympic Committee," the caller told the newspaper.

The attack was in the western suburb of Ilion, about 10 kilometres from the central Athens hotel where the Olympic meetings took place.

That surely added to the anxiety surrounding these games, where expectations have been lowered to the point that everyone will feel relieved if they simply go on as scheduled with no violence and a minimum of problems...

STEVE WILSTEIN

 

[maddogchen]

If it was an attack on US soil, than its bad for Bush, but if its an attack on foreign soil, like Olympics, I don't see how that would affect Bush. That's Greece's responsibility. And they'll say see, they coulnd't attack us at Salt Lake, so they can only attack us overseas. Because we're doing such a good job in homeland security yada yada ya....

 

[tallest1]

If there were a terrorist attack before elections, we'd probably have an exact duplicate of 9-11 - Bush would politicize on the dramatics, act macho, seek bloody vengence on whoevers responsible, and villianize every country that refuses to back him up. Fox news would wave flags in the air again, the masses would blindly support him with 85% approval rating, questioning the president would be taboo, and elections wouldn't resume until the war on whoever is over.

Kerry could say that Bush is not doing his job on terrorism and that even worse, his isolationist and unilateral foriegn policy are to blame?

Nope, that probably wouldn't happen. Despite the ups and downs of the past 4 years, according to the administration and its fanboys, nothing is Bush's fault. Bush would go imagine himself in a western movie again and deja vu...

IMO, of course

 

[MonstaThrilla]

Originally posted by: tallest1
If there were a terrorist attack before elections, we'd probably have an exact duplicate of 9-11 - Bush would politicize on the dramatics, act macho, seek bloody vengence on whoevers responsible, and villianize every country that refuses to back him up. Fox news would wave flags in the air again, the masses would blindly support him with 85% approval rating, questioning the president would be taboo, and elections wouldn't resume until the war on whoever is over.

Kerry could say that Bush is not doing his job on terrorism and that even worse, his isolationist and unilateral foriegn policy are to blame?

Nope, that probably wouldn't happen. Despite the ups and downs of the past 4 years, according to the administration and its fanboys, nothing is Bush's fault. Bush would go imagine himself in a western movie again and deja vu...

IMO, of course

I love how Bush supporters like to claim there have been no terrorist attacks since 9/11. How about the anthrax mailings immediately after 9/11? How about the ricin mailings to Senate office buildings? The latest one happened just the other month. I remember hearing several days after that incident one of the talking heads on FoxNews proclaim how safe Dubya has kept us. Its amazing what blind faith will lead people to say.

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Originally posted by: Napalm
Kerry could say that Bush is not doing his job on terrorism and that even worse, his isolationist and unilateral foriegn policy are to blame?

I don't think Kerry would stoop to such levels.

 

[Zephyr106]

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor

Originally posted by: Napalm
Kerry could say that Bush is not doing his job on terrorism and that even worse, his isolationist and unilateral foriegn policy are to blame?

I don't think Kerry would stoop to such levels.

Yeah, because criticizing the president should be punishable death.

Zephyr

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Originally posted by: Zephyr106

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor

Originally posted by: Napalm
Kerry could say that Bush is not doing his job on terrorism and that even worse, his isolationist and unilateral foriegn policy are to blame?

I don't think Kerry would stoop to such levels.

Yeah, because criticizing the president should be punishable death.

Zephyr

Fascinating response. Not sure where that's coming from or how it's relevent to my post, but, interesting nonetheless.

And you meant "punishable BY death", right, genius?