Would another attack guarantee * a lift in the polls?

[CatWoman]

going thru the threads, a lot of DUers seem to think so.

I don't.

I think another attack will be further proof of *'s incompetence.

[jjmalonejr]

1. Many believe no attacks since 9/11 is due to Bush's tough stance

Another attack would put that misconception to bed.

[shraby]

2. It's possible an attack

would be blamed on Shrubs policy of torture.

[prodigal_green]

3. I agree with you CatWoman

I think they lose either way actually...

another attack--they fucked up
no additional attacks--they overstated the threat

I, of course, am hoping for no additional attack.

[PretzelWarrior]

4. I agree. It will start to look like the drunk dad who can't defend house

and home. He's ranting and raving and beating the kids...but when someone comes in to collect the bills or score a driveby because of daddy's shady activities....this little family will become "Codependent No More" and flee the scene.

He will be toast and America will be returned to a level of sanity we haven't seen since before the blue dress, fbi files, and travelgate.

[benburch]

5. Not at this point.

We have de-fused the possibility by telling people for three years that if he got into trouble he would make sure there was another attack. I think the message had gotten out.

[coloradodem2005]

6. Damn well better not.

People could not possibly be that stupid. Especially when Bush said that he is making America safer with his war on terror. It would backfire. Though, I would never wish for it to happen even if it did hurt Bush.

[okieinpain]

7. Me too, the whole iraq deal is suppose to make us more

secure.

[lanparty]

8. No one should hope for an attack ...

But I do think another attack will hurt Bush. Remember that one of our election year issues is that Bush did little or nothing for counter-terrorism before 9/11. He defunded existing efforts and dropped the ball in Afghanistan.

Contrast this with his post 9/11 stance. You'll find that he really isn't doing much more in the way of counter-terrorism. He isn't funding the first responders (despite the promise). He cut back funding for the Air Marshall service. He refuses to fund an effort to install anti-missle systems on commercial aircraft. He let Osama Bin Ladin get away.

Another attack on American soil will transform our strong argument into a slam dunk. Bush is weak on both defense AND terror. He is weak on economic matters. He's strong on fundamentalism and war profiteering.

[CatWoman]

11. I don't recall ME or anyone else on this thread advocating or wishing

for another terrorist attack.

[lastknowngood]

9. Of course the sheeple will run to ze Fuhrer and beg him to take

more of their rights but please protect them.

[Speck Tater]

10. Just the opposite because...

... it would be proof that Bush's actions have NOT made us any safer.

[Lou_C]

12. No!

This time he would be held accountable for causing the attack.

[0rganism]

13. A lift, but a very small one

If you look at his "lifts" from previous trifectas, their effectiveness decreases both in the initial bump and in the time it takes for the numbers to drift back to where they were before the event. Even a major attack at this point would only give him a 5% push in the polls, and that would probably rebound into further dissatisfaction within a week.

[Jacobin]

14. That is the $64,000 question

It seems almost inevitabl that one will occur prior to the election, whether one thinks Spain was done by al qaida or western black ops. They both want to influence the election in November. Smirky's election chances are very dim.

Islamic radicals want Smirky to stay. He capitulated to their demands to remove troops from Saudi Arabia. He is overreacting to attacks and his IraqNam move played precisely into their hands by hacking off 1 billion muslims.

When/if such an attack occurs, I have had thoughts both ways.....sometimes I think he might get back on that post 9/11 roll and sometimes I think it would just show that he is ineffective.

Right now, I think it would doom him. Too much stuff has happened that he is having trouble explaining away.

With some luck, we won't have such an attack and he'll be back in Crawford clearing brush full time.

[Minstrel Boy]

15. If another attack happens, polls will be irrelevant.

Code Red. Martial Law.

They won't be L/MIHOP'ing for just a bump in the polls.

[robertpaulsen]

18. Took the words right out of my mouth!

If another attack happens, elections will be for the history books.

[SheilaT]

16. My personal take is that

sometime in late summer, August maybe, there will be a foiled attack, and Bush & Co will be highly praised for all he has done to keep us safe. He'll take an initial leap in the polls. But then, his numbers will resume their downward slide. So look forward to a successful attack at the end of October, one bad enough to put the whole country on red alert and cancel the election.

These people are determined to stay in power no matter what. They'll do what it takes, even if it takes some kind of horrible tragedy.

[tnlefty]

17. Sometimes I think it would and other times I think that it wouldn't...

For most of the semi-rational and semi-sane population I would say it wouldn't, or if there was a bounce it would be from sadness and grief.

However, I can visualize Limpballs, Savage, Anthrax Annie, and the venomous, vile gang with their heads practically exploding trying to stir the nutcases into inciting violence against the more sane of the population.

[onecitizen]

19. No, it would be linked........

to the ill-advised occupation of Iraq. If the Dems were smart.

[madrchsod]

20. no and i agree with you

it`s his watch now,he can`t blame clinton anymore

[sendero]

21. I agree with you...

... in spades. The fact is, "Homeland Security" is largely a joke. Little has changed with regards to airline or port security.

Bush* has squandered all our resources on trying to look like a man to his daddy. All he's accomplished is to have made us even more vulnerable to attack, and given thousands of new terrorists a reason.

Bush* will be defeated in Nov either way, but he better pray every night there is not another attack - because he will be trounced if it happens.