Iraq, Rehnquist Create 'October Surprise'

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

By TERENCE HUNT, AP White House Correspondent

WASHINGTON - An "October surprise" is part of the political folklore of presidential campaigns, and just eight days before the election, the unexpected is indeed happening.

Monday's disclosure that 80-year-old Chief Justice William Rehnquist (news - web sites) has thyroid cancer immediately propelled the Supreme Court and the hot-button abortion issue onto the front burner, while the revelation about the looting of 377 tons of high explosives in Iraq gave John Kerry an opening to accuse President Bush of "incredible incompetence."


Another troubling issue for Bush was the execution-style slaying of about 50 newly trained Iraqi soldiers, underscoring the chaos that still rages 19 months after the president ordered a U.S.-led invasion. As awful as the massacre was, it would have been much worse for Bush in political terms if the victims had been Americans.


In a tight race, Kerry and Bush are both on guard for outside events large and small that could not have been anticipated. Rehnquist's illness and discussions of his legacy recalled his pivotal vote four years ago in the decision that gave Bush the presidency after a disputed election outcome.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041026/ap_on_el_pr/october_surprises&cid=694&ncid=2043

[w13rd0]

1. If and when Bush loses...

...there's no way he can appoint a replacement for Rehnquist, right? I know Rehnquist is already one of them, but I don't want Bush to be able to do ANYTHING with the USSC, EVER...

[Inland]

2. The only restraint is honor and respect for the will of the people.

So you can expect Bush to smother Rehnquist with a pillow on Nov. 3, and appoint some twenty year old nutbag to rule over us.

[whalerider55]

4. nah

if bush gets blown out, and loses his "mandate"- they'll hold. come january, with a 52-47 senate, and Jeffords an independent, and Chaffee taking the demo plunge...

my prediction: President Kerry will nominate David SOuter for CHief Justice, who will fly through confimation (he was a Bush I nominee reccomended by John "Philatelist" Sununu; then go for a moderate to fill his seat.

go sox.

whalerider55

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

3. Gotta explain that one to me..how does Rehn's illness qualify as...

October surprise. I always thought it was some dirt on a candidate that comes out in Oct and spoils his chances of victory. If I'm correct in that assumption how does that evil old fossil getting cancer qualify as Oct surprise. Also,does anyone really believe that the theft of explosive gonna change anyones mind on *??? I think not. With all the other dirt we got on him thats just a drop in the bucket.

[w13rd0]

5. It's a drop the corpowhore media is talking about though...

...and it illustrates with a "broad brush" the fundamental problem with the BushCo regime. They are more concerned with profits than people. They protected the oil ministry (which still isn't paying for the reconstruction effort, btw), but not munitions deposits, not hospitals and museums. Iraq, under the direction of Bush, a man who takes the counsel of civilian advisors, but not military, has been an utter and complete clusterfuck.

[cubsfan forever]

6. There may be a few

"independents" who change their vote. Who knows?

Professor 2

[NMDemDist2]

7. Barlett is a scum bag----

"There's no way in which Bush can say, `Look, it was only 50 people, they were only Iraqis,'" said Princeton political scientist Fred Greenstein. "It makes it very hard for him to use his mantra about things are getting better and better, and this is right down to the countdown." snip.......

White House communications director Dan Bartlett said snip... He said the deaths of the Iraqi recruits were "dramatic" and "catastrophic" but would have a much greater impact if they had been Americans.

"It's just brown people, it's not like they were Americans or anybody important"

[Kimber Scott]

8. Yep. Just Iraqis and what do they have to do with anything, really? nt

[Laelth]

9. The problem is ...

it becomes that much harder for Iraq to become independent when its citizens know that they will become targets if they support the Iraqi government (perceived, rightly, to be a U.S. puppet regime). What's worse is that this incident shows we won't protect Iraqis who volunteer to serve in the Iraqi army. If this keeps up, there will be no independent Iraqi army and no independent Iraqi police. Without those, we'll be there forever (or until we pull out and leave the country in the midst of a civil war).

And as for the SC, I'd love to see Ginsberg nominated for Chief Justice. Souter's a Libertarian, really. Not a bad choice, but not what I'd like. And as for Rehnquist, even if he were to resign tomorrow and Shrub nominated a replacement, the Senate wouldn't confirm Shrub's choice unless Shrub were re-selected (or legitimately elected for the first time).

All the more reason to GOTV!

-Laelth

[marlakay]

10. Media just looking for something anything to talk about

both things go against Bush so it works for me but October surprise, I think not.