Here's your October Surprise: Terror Alerts + Schools + Election Day

[Stephanie]

They've sunk to a new low. Mark my words, this is their plan. Suppress the vote by making people too terrified to go to the schools to vote on Election Day.

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Bush: Kerry Would 'Weaken' U.S.
President Defends Iraq War in Run-Up to Second Debate
Thursday, October 7, 2004; Page A01

<snip> The strongly worded speech, which indicted Kerry as a "tax-and-spend liberal," was timed to deflect criticism of Bush's Iraq policy from such key sources as former Iraq administrator L. Paul Bremer, the U.S. weapons inspector and the State Department. A Bush adviser said the president hopes to change the dynamics of the race with more biting attacks on Kerry's record and trustworthiness and on what Bush charges is Kerry's reluctance to use U.S. military force to defeat terrorism. The strategy is aimed at stoking public fears about terrorism, raising new concerns about Kerry's ability to protect Americans and reinforcing Bush's image as the steady anti-terrorism candidate, aides said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A10573-2004Oct6?language=printer____________________________
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U.S. Alerts Schools About Terror Threat
Thu, Oct 07, 2004

WASHINGTON - The Education Department has advised school leaders nationwide to watch for people spying on their buildings or buses to help detect any possibility of terrorism like the deadly school siege in Russia.

The warning follows an analysis by the FBI (news - web sites) and the Homeland Security Department of the siege that killed nearly 340 people, many of them students, in the city of Beslan last month.

"The horror of this attack may have created significant anxiety in our own country among parents, students, faculty staff and other community members," Deputy Education Secretary Eugene Hickok said in a letter to schools and education groups.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=716&e=7&u=/ap/20041007/ap_on_re_us/schools_warnings

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FBI to get help on Election Day plots
Thu Oct 7, 8:08 AM ET

<snip> U.S. law enforcement officials continue to say that beyond intelligence reports indicating that al-Qaeda wants to disrupt the elections, they have no specific information about an existing plot, method or target of a potential attack.

The directive was issued without fanfare at a time when the Bush administration is being accused by Democrats and civil-rights activists of using terrorism alerts to discourage people from voting. But it offers insight into the government's ongoing concern about an attack similar to the deadly train bombings in Madrid last March, just before the Spanish elections.

<snip> But the persistent warnings about terrorism also have drawn skepticism from some Democratic election officials and civil-rights advocates who have accused the Republican White House of creating a climate of fear that, among other things, could suppress voter turnout. Heavy voter turnout historically has favored Democrats in U.S. elections.

Some local officials in Indiana accused Secretary of State Todd Rokita, a Republican, of trying to intimidate voters after he asked election clerks to develop responses to "an immediate and present danger."
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[seventhson]

1. I think they are "bundling" their surprises - Goebbel's "Electoral Bomb"

strategy.

Some HUGE event (like a school bombing or massacre) coupled with terror alerts at schools, etc, will make the Bush mafia proud.

These criminals will stoop as low as their creepy satanic brains will sink them.

[notadmblnd]

2. As Barney Feith used to say... Nip it.... Nip it in the bud..

if bush and his croneys really want to minimize the impact a possible "terrorist" attackt on our nation this election day. All he has to do is make Nov 2 a national holiday and close the schools and businesses for the day.

[LiberalEsto]

9. It is a school holiday in Maryland

because so many polling places are schools.

[RedEarth]

3. Look for Rove to drag out a "school terrorist" within the next few weeks

....need to show the security moms they're doing their job...protecting their children.

[Stephanie]

4. They just found "al Queda" diagrams of NJ schools

I forget where I saw that. The October Surprise is underway. Buckle your seatbelts!

*Edit* Here's the article:

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CD in Iraq Said to Have U.S. Schools Info
By BEN FELLER, AP Education Writer

WASHINGTON - Federal law enforcement authorities notified six school districts in five states last month that a CD found by the U.S. military in Iraq contained crisis-planning information about their schools, two U.S. officials said Thursday.

The downloaded information found in Iraq in July — all publicly available on the Internet — included an Education Department report guiding schools on how to prepare and respond to a crisis, one official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official said FBI Special agents in charge in the areas mentioned in the downloaded material — Georgia, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey and two districts in California — went to those school districts about three weeks ago to inform education officials there.

He said there were serious questions about whether the military's find in July represented any threat; for instance, it could have come from someone innocently involved in civic planning, specifically school planning.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=533&e=2&u=/ap/20041008/ap_on_re_us/schools_warnings
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[tomfodw]

5. Note: They WANT the public to be afraid

" Bush adviser said the president hopes to change the dynamics of the race with more biting attacks on Kerry's record and trustworthiness and on what Bush charges is Kerry's reluctance to use U.S. military force to defeat terrorism. The strategy is aimed at stoking public fears about terrorism, raising new concerns about Kerry's ability to protect Americans and reinforcing Bush's image as the steady anti-terrorism candidate, aides said."


But - but - but - hasn't Bush made us SAFER? If he has made us SAFER, then why are we still supposed to be so afraid?

They really shouldn't be allowed to have it both ways, especially as that aide has actually admitted that they are themselves deliberately ramping up the fear factor.

[Stephanie]

20. They even BOAST about it.

Shameless, sick fucks.

[Sparkly]

6. Which voters will they scare away from the polls?

Theirs.

Let 'em try it.

[magnolia]

15. That's exactly what I think!

If there is a terrorist threat...who will hunker down in their "safe" room, behind the security of duct tape and drop cloths: THOSE WHO BELIEVE THE TERROR THREATS! THOSE WHO WOULD VOTE FOR BUSH! They may even think that polls will be targeted. The security moms who are all voting for Bush will keep their kids out of school making it much harder to get to the polls. The Dems who know it's all a bunch of crap will be at the polls, business as usual.

Terrorist threats??? BRING EM ON!!!

[CatWoman]

7. Hi, Steph

:hi:

you know, my polling place is a church.

I'm surprised they didn't add churches to the list.

[archineas]

8. in response

the more they try to frighten me, the more they strengthen my resolve to fight back and vote!

j

[Stephanie]

10. Welcome to DU, archineas!

That's what we like to hear! Screw these fear-mongering lying abusive freaks.

[tomfodw]

11. AP: Bush adds churches to list

WASHINGTON, DC -- In response to numerous queries on the Internet as to why their press release warning people not to vote in schools on Election Day lest they be killed by terrorists did not include churches, since many Americans vote in churches, the White House today added churches to the list of places people should avoid on Nov. 2.

"Is there any place else people think we should warn them against voting in?" asked presidential press secretary Scott McClellan. "Come on, folks, its your lives we're trying to save here. Tell us where else you think we should alarm you about. I mean, the president doesn't give a shit if you vote or not, but some of you might not want to be blown up by terrorists. So help us out here."

[seventhson]

17. He added "But God will protect the faithful so Y'all come on down 'n vote!

And bring your guns to keep the terrists from votin'. Heh.

[annabanana]

22. OMG! I vote in a TEMPLE!

Am I toast, or what!?!

What a massive steaming pile of shit.
:mad:

[Stephanie]

23. You're toast

You're double-screwed.

[Stephanie]

14. Hi Cat

:hi:

We still have four weeks. Your church polling place will be threatened, no doubt. Be patient. :)

[SW FL Dem]

12. I posted about this last night

This was the lead story on the 11pm news and made the front page of the local paper this morning. They are going after the "security moms" and many of my neighbors are listening :(.

[Stephanie]

16. Yes, it was all over our 11:00 news

It's the local news that does the most scare-mongering. They just love that stuff.

[SW FL Dem]

21. Unfortunately for us - it was a neighboring county that was named

in the report. Just when we were making progress in this heavily pug area :(.

[Ripley]

13. Hey! I vote at a retirement home!

Are they gonna scare the old folks now with new threats?

This is so dumb. I mean really now, how many people stayed home from the pool or beach this July 4 because they feared exploding beer coolers?

Moranic.

[LuminousX]

18. Only one solution, take Nov 2 off, keep the kids at home, take them voting

A lesson in civics.

[Stephanie]

19. The alert to schools was based on NO THREAT whatsoever.

Pure manipulation. Ashcroft will pay for this when we have justice in America again:

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U.S. officials advise how to stop terrorist takeover of schools
Bulletin prompted by last month's siege of Russian school in Beslan

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security sent a bulletin to local law enforcement and homeland security officials Wednesday advising schools how to stop a terrorist takeover similar to that of a Russian school in North Ossetia last month.

A Homeland Security official said that an edited version of the bulletin has been disseminated by the Department of Education to education officials around the country.

The bulletin cautions that, "There is no imminent threat to U.S. schools and the group that conducted the operation has never attacked or threatened to attack U.S. interests." It adds that the FBI and DHS are "currently unaware of any specific, credible information indicating a terrorist threat to public and private schools, universities or colleges in the United States."

It adds, however, that the high casualty rate at the school in the city of Beslan -- more than 300 killed -- and the extensive media coverage it generated "warrant a summary of lessons learned" and "protective measure guidance for helping to prevent and respond to a similar terrorist attack were it to occur in the United States."

A Homeland Security official said that the bulletin was "based on tactics, not threats" and that similar informational bulletins have been issued after other major terrorists attacks overseas, such as the Madrid train bombings last March.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/10/07/homeland.schools/index.html
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