I’ll break it into some categories because I’m anal-retentive.
An attack similar to the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center: carried out by foreign terrorists on US soil, with a minimal loss of life, but in a place symbolic of American prestige and economic power.
An attack similar to the Oklahoma City bombing, carried out by domestic whackjobs on US soil with a larger loss of life.
An attack similar to 9-11, carried out by foreigh terrorists on US soil and with staggering loss of life.
An attack similar to the anthrax scare, with minimal actual fatalities but no clue as to the identity of the perpetrators.
An attack similar to the USS Cole incident, outside the US and with known perpetrators.
If there’s a major terrorist attack in America before the election, McCain wins. He doesn’t even have to campaign anymore. He’s the military man, remember.
I don’t think so. I think those days are over. Do you really think any of the Obama supporters here, for instance, are going to go rushing to McCain?
If people really cared about military cred, they would have voted for Kerry (and McCain’s cred is overstated anyway – basically he’s a failed bomber pilot who got himself caught by the enemy – that hardly makes him a military genius).
If there’s another terrorist attack, it would get blamed on Bush, and McCain = Bush. There’s no way he can scrape that off anymore.
Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. I dunno about you all, but my history classes were full of dummies.
The past 8 years of bullshit will be forgotten in an instant and McCain will win. Even if it’s not a landslide, enough folks will be scared enough to change their minds and give him the edge.
How does McCain react in a crisis? When have we ever seen that?
I’ve seen Barack Obama remain as cool as a cucumber no matter what gets thrown at him. McCain flies off the handle at the drop of a hat and starts cursing at clouds.
I understand that a lot of righties are dreaming about another 9/11 attack before the election. They feel it would save them in the election. They would dance in the streets if another 3,000 Americans got murdered. I just don’t think that would work out for them the way they think it would. Americans would not just go rushing blindly to the Republicans. The righties have to be careful about believing too much of their own demagoguery. The idea that a second 9/11 on Bush’s watch would somehow be good for his party is delusional in the extreme.
It DOESN’T matter. You keep thinking about this reasonably and rationally. The last thing the American public is going to be after another terrorist attack is reasonable and rational. Any kind of real terrorist threat would result in a McCain landslide.
I don’t buy that. I know another terrorist attack would be right wing’s last, best hopebut I think the reaction would go against conventional wisdom. The timing would be seen by many as extremely suspicious for one thing. Don’t underestimate the amount of antipathy and cynicism which people feel towards the current administration.
Two years ago you were telling us that it was only a right wing wet dream that Hillary would run for president. Just because the right wing may or may not want “x” doesn’t mane that “x” isn’t valid. And I don’t even know that “the right wing” is all that jazzed up about a terrorist attack. I’m sure a few nutjobs are, but there are nutjobs of all stripes out there. In fact, it may very well be that the Osama video released just before the 2004 election is what tilted it towards Bush. Remember that?
The initial reaction will favor McCain. But after all of the crap in the past seven years, I think more people than usual will rethink their kneejerk reaction; so in the long term it may be closer to a wash.
Feel free to ignore this related hijack: I’m already expecting the Bushitters to revive Terrorism Alerts, oh, about August.