# What's Rove Gonna Spring On Us? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 20, 2004, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-rove-gonna-spring-on-us/270229 "2004-10-20T15:38:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-rove-gonna-spring-on-us/270229/21 "2004-10-20T20:06:06Z")
> [@Hyperelastic](#): > > What’s Rove Gonna Spring On Us? Osama bin Ladin. Think people will fall for the “capture” of Osama bin Ladin a week or so before election day? ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-rove-gonna-spring-on-us/270229/22 "2004-10-20T20:18:36Z")
[Cheney’s sewing the seeds](http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/10/20/cheney.wednesday.ap/index.html). It’ll be a terrorist alert bump, _and_ an arrest of a terrorist cell that was ‘just about to strike’ - maybe even with nuclear waste. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-rove-gonna-spring-on-us/270229/23 "2004-10-20T22:58:23Z")
Where’s the vote for “All of the above”? …Nuclear terrorist threats …Sinclair Broadcasting’s commercial-free propaganda hour …The **Sam Stone** special: “384 Economists Denounce Kerry Economic Plan” …Diebold "Nice 'n Honest"™ voting machines …Rumors that Osama’s corpse has been found …Drudge Report headline – “KERRY HAD SEX WITH DEAD GOAT” …Fox News Special Report – “God endorses Bush” …11th-hour marshall law declaration, only registered Republicans allowed to vote ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-rove-gonna-spring-on-us/270229/24 "2004-10-20T23:02:57Z")
> [@](#): > > What’s Rove Gonna Spring On Us? Himself. “GRAAAAA!” ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-rove-gonna-spring-on-us/270229/25 "2004-10-20T23:24:56Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] > [@](#): > > “October Surprise” referred originally to speculation that Reagan got the Iranians to delay releasing the hostages until after the inauguration, so Carter wouldn’t get credit for it.No cite handy, but I think that’s a bit more than a speculation. Only if you consider “[debunked horseshit accusation](http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/1991_cr/h911104-october.htm)” to be more than speculation. As to what Rove will do - no doubt he will [enchant giants to look like windmills.](http://www.online-literature.com/view.php/don_quixote/12?term=windmill) Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![RadioWave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/91b2a8/32.png) [@RadioWave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadioWave)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-rove-gonna-spring-on-us/270229/26 "2004-10-20T23:26:41Z")
I expect there to be several small announcements rather than anything on the scale of “We found Bin Laden hiding behind the refrigerator!”. For instance, the decision to dig up [mass graves](http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/10/13/iraq.graves/) in Iraq one month before the election seems somewhat suspicious, seeing how the graves were found over a year ago. I also expect we’ll start hearing more about Hussein’s trial in the next couple of weeks. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-rove-gonna-spring-on-us/270229/27 "2004-10-20T23:57:39Z")
> [@Fiver](#): > > It’s not going to be that. As someone pointed out in another GD thread, if they were planning this then the Administration would have been talking bin Laden up for months now, saying how dangerous he is, how he’s a unique threat, al Qaeda would be broken without him, etc. etc. > > Instead, they continue to downplay his importance. Ms. Laura Rozen speculated that it would be the capture of Zarqawi, who _is_ being talked up. Where’s **Bluesman** when we need him? ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-rove-gonna-spring-on-us/270229/28 "2004-10-20T23:59:26Z")
> [@Hyperelastic](#): > > - Kerry donated money or otherwise supported a group linked to terrorism This ain’t gonna happen as more than one member of Team Bush have recently aided and abetted Saddam Hussein’s international terrorist organization, Mujahedin-e-Khalq. ---
**Author:** ![jshore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@jshore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jshore)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-rove-gonna-spring-on-us/270229/29 "2004-10-21T02:05:26Z")
I’ll take terrorism alert level rise for 10 please… with vague statements about how the terrorists are going to try to disrupt the election, perhaps in some big city. This will have the advantage of not only bumping up Bush’s approval rating but also trying to keep voter turnout down, especially in areas they want it kept down. In general, higher voter turnout favors the Democrats and, of course, especially so in the cities. This is a prediction that I’ll be more than happy to get proven wrong on. In fact, I am not so sure how much I think it will happen…But, I fear they might try this, particularly if the tracking polls are looking bad. (I think we have another week or so before they’d really spring this one, although they might start making preliminary noises soon.) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-rove-gonna-spring-on-us/270229/30 "2004-10-21T02:09:17Z")
> [@SimonX](#): > > This ain’t gonna happen as more than one member of Team Bush have recently aided and abetted Saddam Hussein’s international terrorist organization, Mujahedin-e-Khalq. !!! Cite? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-rove-gonna-spring-on-us/270229/31 "2004-10-21T02:11:33Z")
> [@jshore](#): > > I’ll take terrorism alert level rise for 10 please… with vague statements about how the terrorists are going to try to disrupt the election, perhaps in some big city. This will have the advantage of not only bumping up Bush’s approval rating but also trying to keep voter turnout down, especially in areas they want it kept down. In general, higher voter turnout favors the Democrats and, of course, especially so in the cities. Don’t forget, some states have early voting. We’re already voting in Florida – just go to your nearest public library and you’ll find a polling station set up, where you can vote if you’re a resident of the county, no matter what your precinct. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-rove-gonna-spring-on-us/270229/32 "2004-10-21T02:37:54Z")
A racial issue would be an obvious one. Have some Vietnam vet step forward and say Kerry intentionally sent black soldiers on more dangerous missions or something like that. It’ll be hard to disprove quickly and it will target black voters, who support Kerry but aren’t overwhelmed by him. If Rove can get enough black voters to decide to sit out the election, he can tip some swing states to Bush. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-rove-gonna-spring-on-us/270229/33 "2004-10-21T03:20:08Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > A racial issue would be an obvious one. Have some Vietnam vet step forward and say Kerry intentionally sent black soldiers on more dangerous missions or something like that. It’ll be hard to disprove quickly and it will target black voters, who support Kerry but aren’t overwhelmed by him. If Rove can get enough black voters to decide to sit out the election, he can tip some swing states to Bush. Ain’t gonna happen. Trust me. This year, the blacks would turn out to vote for Kerry if Rove showed them a color photo of Kerry in a hood and bedsheet leading a Klan lynching. ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-rove-gonna-spring-on-us/270229/34 "2004-10-21T03:41:52Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > !!! Cite? [Cite](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6242223/site/newsweek/). ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-rove-gonna-spring-on-us/270229/35 "2004-10-21T03:45:18Z")
> [@minty green](#): > > [Cite](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6242223/site/newsweek/). > [@](#): > > The State Department designated terrorist group in question, is the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK)—an Iranian opposition group that was long backed by Saddam’s regime as a counterweight to the Tehran government. Not only does the MEK have no connection either to September 11 or Al Qaeda, in the past, it has had strong support from members of Congress—including leading Republicans in both chambers and a current Bush cabinet member, Attorney General John Ashcroft. Puts rather a different light on it – Pubs could reasonably defend funding an **Iranian opposition** group even if it also happened to be Hussein’s baby. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-rove-gonna-spring-on-us/270229/36 "2004-10-21T03:45:49Z")
> [@jshore](#): > > I’ll take terrorism alert level rise for 10 please… with vague statements about how the terrorists are going to try to disrupt the election, perhaps in some big city. This will have the advantage of not only bumping up Bush’s approval rating but also trying to keep voter turnout down, especially in areas they want it kept down. In general, higher voter turnout favors the Democrats and, of course, especially so in the cities. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a bomb detonated at a polling station by a fanatical nut case such as those who shoot-up abortion clinics. Or possibly a sniper. If this happens early enough on the 2nd, turnout will be reduced to nil. I think this is way past Rovian scare tactics but I won’t put it past some random lunatic member of the general public. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-rove-gonna-spring-on-us/270229/37 "2004-10-21T03:55:41Z")
I wanted to ask if anybody thinks the DNC should not wait before going on the offensive. Rove has proven that he is willing and able to generate large quantities of extra-sticky slime at the last minute and have his thugs sling it at the houses of undecided voters in the middle of the night. Should Mary Beth Cayhill cook up a steaming pile of slander and hurl it at Bush days before the election? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-rove-gonna-spring-on-us/270229/38 "2004-10-21T04:38:07Z")
> [@Patty O'Furniture](#): > > Should Mary Beth Cayhill cook up a steaming pile of slander and hurl it at Bush days before the election? Rather redundant in Bush’s case, don’t you think? The truth is slanderous enough. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-rove-gonna-spring-on-us/270229/39 "2004-10-21T04:46:36Z")
> [@Patty O'Furniture](#): > > I wouldn’t be surprised to see a bomb detonated at a polling station by a fanatical nut case such as those who shoot-up abortion clinics. Or possibly a sniper. Wouldn’t suprise me in the least, given the frenzied rhetoric coming from the Left. We’ve already had some RNC offices shot at and ransacked. It doesn’t take a giant leap of the imagination to believe that some wild-eyed ‘OMG BUSH IS TEH SUX!’ lefty will pull a violent stunt on Nov 2. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-rove-gonna-spring-on-us/270229/40 "2004-10-21T04:59:00Z")
The most devious idea I’ve heard: Laura Bush announces she has health problems and goes into a hospital. Sympathy votes pour in. The media and Democratic Party wouldn’t dare call it a lie, and they wouldn’t be able to debunk it anyway. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-rove-gonna-spring-on-us/270229.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-rove-gonna-spring-on-us/270229.md?page=3)