Why do YOU think Paul O'Neill decided to cover his ass this morning?

[RandomKoolzip]

I was wondering what youse guys thought was the REAL reason Paul O'Neill decided to backtrack and say terrible things about "probably" voting for Bush again, after theis weekend's infamous "Blind man"-type screeds.....

[ithacan]

1. threat of long prison term

I'm absolutely sure that the Bushies (perhaps Rove himself) threatened O'Neill with the harshest possible criminal penalties, and with the knowledge that the Bushies would make SURE evidence would show up...

He really did an about face from the "I'm old and rich, what can they do to me..."

[Pegleg Thd]

2. It was probably "suggested" to him

that someone in his family could end up like Vince Foster.

[madaboutharry]

3. I think they have something

on him relating to his tenure at Alcoa.

[RandomKoolzip]

4. Hmmmmm.....

maybe so...It just seems strange to go from "I'm rich and I'm old, I don't care, they can't harm me" on Sunday evening to "I'll vote for Bush again" on Tuesday morning.

[Terwilliger]

5. one more category: Didn't realize there'd be no repercussions for Bush

and tucked tail between his legs FAST

[monobrau]

6. surveillance photos of the grandchildren

"Be a shame if something happened to the little ones, Paul, a damn shame."

[Minstrel Boy]

7. Rumsfeld: "Ya don't say? Lemme give him a call...."

Watching that gargoyle today describe his response to first hearing of the book persuaded me. They leaned hard on O'Neil.

What I wonder now is, what will become of Suskind?

[RandomKoolzip]

8. Can Suskind get his job back with the WSJ after this?

He may have to go to The Nation.....

[lucidmadman]

9. I call it the 'Cheney look'...

..the one that says "you know, we could find a dead hooker in your hotel room?". I've seen him give that look to journalists. We're in frighteningly bad hands these days.

[RandomKoolzip]

10. Let's face it; America is run by the Mafia now.

They don't share the same ethnic background, but these wiseguys are worse than anything Scorsese could dream up....

[Beetwasher]

11. Dick Cheney Has A Subsection in His Little Black Book Titled

"Assassins for Hire w/ No Objections to Murdering Small Children"

[underseasurveyor]

12. The way to break a man?

Threaten his family. Works 99.99% of the time.

[LibDemAlways]

13. A dead fish wrapped in paper with a tag reading "Baxter"

appeared on his front porch courtesy of Rove as a reminder of what happens to those who betray the BFEE.

He's old all right, but I don't think he's ready to become a "suicide" (read murder) victim.

[Cappadonna]

15. Or a box of baking powder with the tag line, "Ask Dan Rather"

Yeah, these mafiosos make Nixon and Reagan look like girl scouts with hissy fits. When did the Sopranos start running the white house?

[On the Road]

14. Jon Stewart on Paul O'Neil

JS shows clip of Paul O'Neil saying "I never thought I'd be attacked for telling the truth.

JS looks at the camera, gives that look of his, and said "You can tell he's been around the block a few times."

[Must_B_Free]

16. Other: they threatened his money