# ObL Tape: Will it affect the election? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 29, 2004, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obl-tape-will-it-affect-the-election/271915 "2004-10-29T20:04:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obl-tape-will-it-affect-the-election/271915/161 "2004-10-31T13:23:13Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > As well, I also suspect this was intended to show that little bitch Al-Zarqawi just who the Big Dog really is. My theory is that Zarqawi has been long dead. I think that our propaganda machines and the insurgents propaganda machines are the only places where Mr. Zarqawi and his extra legs “really exist.” That being said I’m intrigued by the idea getting play that UbL is trying to turn aQ achieve a success like the IRA and PLO. He’s trying to turn legit (after a fashion). UbL’s moving in for the fight over the moderate Muslims. He’s already earned his street cred and now he’s trying to appeal to the security/soccer moms of the Muslim world. If he can offer something other than a violently dynamic end for these womens’ babies (babies of all ages) he might stand a chance of slipping into the Protector role. If he pulls this off the fact that he’s a wanted man all over the world’ll just look glamorous like a Robin Hood. Just like so many other political battles there’s a fight for the moderate middle. Who’s ‘our’ candidate? ---
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obl-tape-will-it-affect-the-election/271915/162 "2004-10-31T15:26:00Z")
> [@SimonX](#): > > My theory is that Zarqawi has been long dead. I think that our propaganda machines and the insurgents propaganda machines are the only places where Mr. Zarqawi and his extra legs “really exist.” That is the problem of fighting terrorists with bombs… not much leftover to prove anything. How do you know if that bearded corpse was Zarqawi ? Not even his allies would be sure. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obl-tape-will-it-affect-the-election/271915/163 "2004-10-31T15:37:03Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Muslim males are indeed…um…edited…before puberty. I saw a documentary on Turkey once that showed an assemblage of young boys about to go thru this. You never saw more terrified faces in your life. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obl-tape-will-it-affect-the-election/271915/164 "2004-10-31T16:02:08Z")
Look, it’s the RNC not exploiting 9/11! [http://bluelemur.com/images/stories/rnc/rncmailer1.jpg](http://bluelemur.com/images/stories/rnc/rncmailer1.jpg) Nothing like the death of thousands to help a guy out, right! Nothing like one of the world’s greatest mass murderers running around free after three years, thumbing his nose at the U.S. to cheer Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obl-tape-will-it-affect-the-election/271915/165 "2004-10-31T16:03:09Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > I think it was be his MO to sit on a video like this for a few months and then leak it just before the elction. He may or may not have faked the video (nothing would surprise me with this White House) but the timing has Rove’s oily thumbprints all over it. Nope. But if you want to see Rove’s handiwork writ large, just wait till 1pm today, when the real surprise is planned to go live. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obl-tape-will-it-affect-the-election/271915/166 "2004-10-31T16:17:17Z")
> [@Apos](#): > > Nope. But if you want to see Rove’s handiwork writ large, just wait till 1pm today, when the real surprise is planned to go live. linksies? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obl-tape-will-it-affect-the-election/271915/167 "2004-10-31T16:28:09Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Muslim males are indeed…um…edited…before puberty. You may find it amusing to know that there is a _Hadith_, supposedly adirect quote from Mohammed himself, which states that Abraham circumcised himself at the age of 80…with a hachet. I guess because God told him to. And this after the Isaac thing. It makes me wonder if Satan wasn’t up there making bets with God about whether Abraham would ever say no to anything. > > “Watch this, I’ll tell him to cut off part of his own pecker with a hatchet. He’ll do it.” > > “You’re on. Fifty bucks.” Which all reminds me of: > [@Bob Dylan](#): > > Oh God said to Abraham, “Kill me a son” > Abe says, “Man, you must be puttin’ me on” > God say, “No.” Abe say, “What?” > God say, “You can do what you want Abe, but > The next time you see me comin’ you better run” > Well Abe says, “Where do you want this killin’ done?” > God says, “Out on Highway 61.” Now, before this thread takes a Jack Dean Tyler turn, can we get back to the original topic, or at least a more pleasant hijack? 😉 Anyway, [about the Bush tilt that the ObL vid has had on the polls:](http://www.nowchannel.com/tracking/) here’s the changes between the tracking polls that ended Thursday, and those that ended yesterday: WaPo RV with leaners: went from Bush +2 to Kerry +1. WaPo LV with leaners: went from Bush +3 to tied. Zogby LV: from Bush +1 to tied. Zogby LV with leaners: tied then, tied now. Fox has four versions: registered, likely, with and without Nader. Fox RV 2-way: from tied to Kerry +2. Fox RV 3-way: from Bush +2 to Kerry +2. Fox LV 2-way: from Bush +5 to Kerry +1. Fox LV 3-way: from Bush +5 to tied. Yesterday’s Rasmussen will be up in half an hour. It was Bush +2 for the tracker ending Thursday. Anyway, if there’s been movement towards Bush since Thursday night, it hasn’t shown up in the polls yet. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obl-tape-will-it-affect-the-election/271915/168 "2004-10-31T23:53:31Z")
> [@Apos](#): > > Nope. But if you want to see Rove’s handiwork writ large, just wait till 1pm today, when the real surprise is planned to go live. So, what happened? ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obl-tape-will-it-affect-the-election/271915/169 "2004-11-01T00:15:40Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > I saw a documentary on Turkey once that showed an assemblage of young boys about to go thru this. You never saw more terrified faces in your life. My mom’s second husband (she’s on #3 now and he seems pretty tame) is from Iran and described it this way (roughly): He was 8 or so. Didn’t know what was going on. His folks told him it was to be a party but not the purpose. Family, friends, his local cleric, what-have-you from the neighborhood, servants, passersby, etc. Everything is sweet. People are talking and eating…milling about in that party style. He is oblivious. Til his mom tells him to drop trou in the living room. No shit. Suddenly he’s pantsed by his parents and a guy with a knife is coming at his weenie and he doesn’t know what the hell is going on. A knife flashes, a child screams, a crowd cheers. No kidding. He said they cheered. Now, he may well be enhancing this for the sake of a good yarn, I admit. But **damn** , son. I hated the man with a passion only a 14 year old can muster and even _I_ felt sympathy for him that time. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obl-tape-will-it-affect-the-election/271915/170 "2004-11-01T00:28:18Z")
> [@Apos](#): > > Nope. But if you want to see Rove’s handiwork writ large, just wait till 1pm today, when the real surprise is planned to go live. What **RTFirefly** said. I can’t find anything in the news today consistent with your prediction. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obl-tape-will-it-affect-the-election/271915/171 "2004-11-01T00:49:39Z")
> [@Fiver](#): > > What **RTFirefly** said. I can’t find anything in the news today consistent with your prediction. Did you adjust for daylight savings etc? ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obl-tape-will-it-affect-the-election/271915/172 "2004-11-01T00:59:50Z")
> [@Fiver](#): > > What **RTFirefly** said. I can’t find anything in the news today consistent with your prediction. Hmm… I agree. Maybe it fizzled. Right wingania was all abuz about a final swift vet surprise. Of course, local suprises abound. Maybe I’m locating myself, but someone today just cut the phone lines on one of the largest Kerry phonebanks in my region. Yes: cut the lines. Physically. Nice. I guess that’s more efficient than hiring firms to phone jam our phone banks. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obl-tape-will-it-affect-the-election/271915/173 "2004-11-01T01:10:08Z")
I wasn’t sure where to put this, but this is as good a place as any. The “Jersey Girls,” 9/11 widows who were very important in getting the 9/11 Commision going (since PrezBush was against it), have released a statement on the bin Laden tape. > [@](#): > > [http://atrios.blogspot.com/2004/10/statement-from-jersey-girls-on-bin.html](http://atrios.blogspot.com/2004/10/statement-from-jersey-girls-on-bin.html) > > \*\*We cried when we saw the tape on Friday of Osama Bin Laden. He’s tanned and healthy. He does not look desperate or scared. He does not look like a man on the run. > > Three years ago, President Bush promised us he would capture Osama Bin Laden–Dead or Alive. He didn’t do that. > > The man that murdered our husbands, is back terrorizing our country again. The videotape of him has brought us back to 9/11. We feel threatened. We feel vulnerable. We are scared. > > Our question to President Bush is: Why didn’t you catch him when you promised us you would? Why is this mass murderer–this madman-- still out there making videotapes and terrorizing our country three years after you promised our country that you would make us safe from him? President Bush, why cant you keep us safe from this madmen? > > Kristen Breitweiser and Monica Gabrielle\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obl-tape-will-it-affect-the-election/271915/174 "2004-11-01T01:38:57Z")
> [@Apos](#): > > Hmm… I agree. Maybe it fizzled. Right wingania was all abuz about a final swift vet surprise. Was [url="[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE\_ID=41106](http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=41106)"this what you were talking about? If so, I thought it was supposed to hit days ago, except it turned out nobody cared what the Swifties have to say anymore. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obl-tape-will-it-affect-the-election/271915/175 "2004-11-01T11:08:58Z")
I expect that Rove probably has one last piece of attempted slime to bring into play. I’m hoping Kerry’s people pre-empt this somehow - maybe by bringing up the [Zarqawi story](http://online.wsj.com/article_email/0,,SB109866031609354178-IdjgYNhlaR3n52paIKIaKmGm4,00.html) that got buried under Bombgate last week? ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obl-tape-will-it-affect-the-election/271915/176 "2004-11-01T14:47:32Z")
Nope: it was about claiming that Kerry’s discharge wasn’t honorable. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obl-tape-will-it-affect-the-election/271915.md?page=8)