Anyone think this Bush answer reveals they've got an October surprise...

[Brotherjohn]

... re Bin Laden?

"RUSSERT: Senator Charles Grassley, a Republican... said he is absolutely convinced we will capture Osama bin Laden before the election.
BUSH: Well, I appreciate his optimism. I have no idea whether we will capture or bring him to justice, may be the best way to put it.
RUSSERT: Do you have a pretty good idea where Osama is?
BUSH: You know, I'm not going to comment on that."

I can just see Rove and Cheney wincing.

"George! Just because we TOLD you that was the best way to put it doesn't mean you should tell THEM that it's 'the best way to put it'! Do you understand what 'plausible deniability'... oh NEVERMIND!"

It's as though he's privy to something, but was told not to reveal it, and he couldn't help but say he can't reveal it. It's like a child you tell a secret to, but they can't help but at least let on that they know a secret.

He just has a way of speaking (or lack thereof) that, at the very least, makes it PAINFULLY obvious that he's going off a script. Like the time during one of his few press conferences where he outright said that so-and-so was who he was supposed to call on next (he called on them before they even raised their hand, I think).

[hedda_foil]

1. I had the same take on these statements.

Sure sounded that way to me.

[judge_smales]

2. I don't think it will matter.

By that time enough of his "base" will have drained away, and enough soldiers will have died in Iraq, and enough good workers will be on the dole, that Osama just won't matter. Or it could even backfire on him. Maybe, just maybe, people will see a cynical political trick as, well, a cynical political trick.

[Bonhomme Richard]

5. I agree

I think his credibility is so low and people are so tired of his bullshit that they will think he's only been putting osama off until just before the election.
Only his core will believe in the coincidence.
Actually it could backfire on him.

[montanacowboy]

3. What was more telling

was when Russert asked him what he would do if he didn't win, and he said "I'm going to win, Tim".....

[indepat]

4. He seem supremely confident in that: maybe the Lord has whispered

in his ear.

[sallyseven]

7. Election in the bag?

Osama will not be found. Even if he was it is too late. Just like Saddam too little to late. Saddam was found not to be the big Bogey man the bush said he was. He was a broken man in a hole in the ground.

[Brotherjohn]

6. To clarify, he may as well have said "That's how I was told to put it."

[pacifictiger]

8. Did you notice his body language at the time

he was saying I'm not going to comment? It spoke deception, deception, to me.
So, I anticipate a reversal in the "he's not relevant" mantra, to "look at me, look at me, we got him."

Whats more interesting to me on the bigger picture is that there has been virtually no focus by politicians or the media on Dr.Zawaheri(sp?). In my opinion he is the far, far, more dangerous figure - he was Bin Ladin's inspiration and mentor; Bin laden was his money man and salesman. Also, I believe he was implicated somehow with events surrounding the assassination of Egypt's Anwar Sadat and anti peace initiatives in the region.

[theorist]

9. This is his same old tactic.

He's a horrible liar, and he knows it. He doesn't even bother when he gets questions like these. This would have been more interesting:

...
Russert: Do you have a pretty good idea where Osama is?
Bush: You know, my intelligence is good intelligence. If I were to give up some of that intelligence it wouldn't be as good intelligence if I was to. Osama is an evil dictat--man who (inaudible) evil terror network. I hope he got caught soon.
...

Now that would have been great!

[DoYouEverWonder]

10. I am sure they have another attack up their sleeves

so far most of the major terrorist attacks in the last 3 years have been of a time and place that benefited Bu$h's political agenda the most. You would think bin Laden was still on the payroll.


Below is a hint about what I think might be their next surprise:

[aquart]

11. Something that was donated by France?

If it happens, I would be pleased to see George dangling from the torch.

[DoYouEverWonder]

12. Kill two birds with one stone?

They did it in Turkey when they bombed the British Embassy the day that Bu$h was in England. Plus it got the protesters off the TV, so actually it was another Trifecta.

[radwriter0555]

13. Bin laden been dead since December 2001.

I'll make book on it.

[Cat Atomic]

14. If they have bin Laden, Bush doesn't know about it.

Would you tell a secret to a dunce who speaks in front of television cameras?