Deep breaths, everyone.

[WilliamPitt]

Let's wait for a trustworthy translation. Let's see where the TV and print press go over the next couple of hours. Let's keep a sharp eye out for the Kerry campaign response.

We knew this was coming. Now it's here. Let's handle it, and not let it handle us.

[clydefrand]

1. The voice of reason, thanks.

[MallRat]

2. I agree, but we can't wait to see where the press goes with this.

The GOP are going to lead this narrative if we don't get out there quickly. There are already hints of a "good news for Bush, OBL endorses Kerry" storyline beginning to form.

Panic? No. But be proactive? Hell, yes.

-MR

[LiberteToujours]

16. Agree completely

We can't just sit and hope the press does their job. They will report whichever side strongarms them most effectively. If we give the GOP a crack you'll be hearing "Bin Laden endorses Kerry" stories from now until Tuesday. We can NOT let that happen.

[knowbody0]

3. just as we prepare to obliterate holy city

let us pray

[frankly_fedup2]

14. you are right knowbody0. They were moving in British troops so our

troops could go into Ramallah for a major offensive. Has anyone heard anything about when this might be?

I'm sure Bush, Rumsfield, Ashcroft, and especially Cheney will only give the go ahead when it will help them.

If this tape is for real, he knows that the U.S. troops are going into Ramallah to wipe out the insurgents. Does anyone think this may be what he is talking about? Any thoughts?

[getoffmytrain]

22. "Ramallah"?

You mean Fallujah.

[frankly_fedup2]

25. Why is Ramallah stuck in my head???? You are right though . . .

it is Fallujah. Thanks getoff.

[russian33]

4. Will, as usual, the voice of reason

The way I look at it, from New York, the man on TV did horrors to my city, and he's on TV talking about it. The man in charge did shit to catch him, and that will change come Tuesday.

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

5. Great advice, Will.

Also will everyone on DU turn off CNN, MSNBC and Faux. No point in getting more stressed out than you were already.

[WilliamPitt]

7. Actually, for now, I think watching them is important

as the leading indicator of the bullshit meter.

[frankly_fedup2]

6. The voice of reason is helpful when one is sitting on frayed nerves . . .

Hey, that kind of sounds like something confucious would say!

O8)

[swag]

8. We've all seen this guy on TV before. I'm as impervious to his image

as I am to J Lo's.

My gut is that the tape is a wash as far as the campaign goes.

But atop this week's litany of Buscho ineptitude and the tenor of both campaigns, I wouldn't be calling this a plus for any Bush.

[Lex]

9. Agreed.

Nothing ever gets accomplished by freaking out.

[H3Dakota]

10. Here, here!!

Thank you, Walt for being the calm voice of reason!

[WilliamPitt]

17. Will, not Walt

;)

[Born_A_Truman]

11. This tape should only serve

to show how Bush has failed miserably in catching OBL in over 3 years.

[frankly_fedup2]

23. Well, if it is Bin Laden, he is stating that the extra 20 minutes

Bush set there reading a book, allowed them to do more destruction then they thought they had.

So, by that statement, the man is putting even more blame on Bush (as if he needed it . . . we all know how inadequate Bush was and still is); however, by Bin Laden stating that, I wonder how this is going to play out.

You're right. Gotta cut all this off for now. It would be better for us.

I'm already thinking conspiracy . . . Bush already has him, they are making him read this, and before Tuesday, TA DAhhhh, we captured him. Isn't that silly.

See you all tomorrow. Hopefully, things will be more settled by then.

[Willy Lee]

12. I'm going to the lounge.

[comsymp]

13. We should also be grateful- if this IS the October Surprise,

whether AQ's or GW's, it's a helluvalot better- on ALL levels- than an attack.

[Chili]

15. good advice

Let's see what the media spin is - holding my breath.

[billyoc]

18. The CNN translation was rather innocuous,

"don't attack us and we won't attack you." kind of a thing. :shrug:

[Norbert]

19. Two things OBL would be October Surprise. Orange alert is next

No surprises here.



My only concern right now is OBL wants to keep the dim son in power but let's wait and see.

[comsymp]

26. Damn, I thought we already were at Orange

Could have sworn they elevated it several weeks ago due to alleged pre-election chatter.

Now I have to rethink my Fall ensembles~

[The Magistrate]

20. Indeed, Mr. Pitt

All this does is re-emphasize the failures of the criminals of the '00 Coup in prosecuting the war against the Islamic fundamentalist radicals who atacked our country. It gives new edge and further sustains the line that the criminals missed a golden opportunity to catch this wretch by "outsourcing" the job at Tora Bora, and to the colossal distraction from this vital effort the invasion of Iraq reoresents. It drives home to the people that for all the bluster of the Andover cheerleader, all his "Dead or alive" and "We'll smoke 'em out" and his "You can run but you can't hide" posturings, the fact is that Bin Ladin has indeed evaded the might of the United States, as this has been directed by this criminally incompetent administration, and is still in operation and doing quite well for himself. It is an excellent and sovereign reminder of the failures of this administration in what most people consider a vital matter, and gives the lie entirely to the Andover cheerleader's pretense that he is up to the job of protecting the nation. For that, better to turn to someone who has actually closed with an armed enemy, and shot him dead....

"If you repeat a lie often enough, you are a Republican."

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[WilliamPitt]

21. .

[WI_DEM]

24. We do know Bush will try and milk it for everything he's got

but Kerry should respond, "Well, perhaps if we had put the same effort into capturing Bin-Laden that we put into invading Iraq he wouldn't be taping terror messages."

[greekspeak]

27. Ha....trustworthy translation? Don't count on it.

Translation is a HIGHLY subjective activity even with the best of intentions. I expect to see news outlets spinning their translations as much as possible to help the Shrubery. And I think we here all know that the very existance of the tape is proof POSITIVE that Idiot Boy has FAILED ABISMALLY as leader of this country.

the tape is proof POSITIVE that Idiot Boy has FAILED ABISMALLY
the tape is proof POSITIVE that Idiot Boy has FAILED ABISMALLY
the tape is proof POSITIVE that Idiot Boy has FAILED ABISMALLY
the tape is proof POSITIVE that Idiot Boy has FAILED ABISMALLY
the tape is proof POSITIVE that Idiot Boy has FAILED ABISMALLY
the tape is proof POSITIVE that Idiot Boy has FAILED ABISMALLY
the tape is proof POSITIVE that Idiot Boy has FAILED ABISMALLY
the tape is proof POSITIVE that Idiot Boy has FAILED ABISMALLY
the tape is proof POSITIVE that Idiot Boy has FAILED ABISMALLY
the tape is proof POSITIVE that Idiot Boy has FAILED ABISMALLY
the tape is proof POSITIVE that Idiot Boy has FAILED ABISMALLY
the tape is proof POSITIVE that Idiot Boy has FAILED ABISMALLY
the tape is proof POSITIVE that Idiot Boy has FAILED ABISMALLY
the tape is proof POSITIVE that Idiot Boy has FAILED ABISMALLY
the tape is proof POSITIVE that Idiot Boy has FAILED ABISMALLY
the tape is proof POSITIVE that Idiot Boy has FAILED ABISMALLY

[VelmaD]

28. I'm trying my best...

and I was doing ok until someone posted a thread titled "The Battle for Fallujah Begins". Just about freaked out til I got into the thread and saw it was just speculation. Then the OBL tape stuff started and my "Oh shit-o-meter" went back off the chart. Sucks being a cube rat and not knowing what's really going on in the world all day.

The reminder to breathe always helps. :hug:

[Generator]

29. THE October surprise happened while I was on DU

history being made. I can hardly breathe. Bush will spin it but no one can answer this one:

Why the FUCK is Osama Bin Laden still alive on October 29,2004?

I would have sworn he was dead. Apparently I am wrong.

The answer to why: George W. Bush. His watch. His war on terror. His failure to get enemy number 1. His failure. Asbolute proof of his failure. Case closed. The REST is spin. If we hadn't gone into Iraq would Osama be alive?? Hmmm great talking point doncha think?

[troublemaker]

Yes, the Kerry campaign response is what matters.

The D in DU doesn't always stand for discipline, and that's a good thing indeed. But this is THE time time to let the campaign lead the way.

I trust John Kerry to strike the right tone.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

30. I'm not hearing anything that sounds spinnable for Bush

On Fox, the crawl reads something like "Bush administration compared to 'corrupt' Saudi government." (Fox is gloating that the stock market immediately zoomed upwards, but perhaps the traders see the reminder of the free, unpunished OBL as good for Kerry.)

On MSNBC they are bending over backwards to stress that OBL is saying nobody but the American people can keep themselves safe - not Bush, not Kerry.

Then there is a statement that boils down to OBL saying that attacks on US soil have been planned since 82, and 9-11 wouldn't have been so bad if Bush had been more alert.

I have stopped watching and will come back to it when full translations are available.

[semillama]

31. I agree - settle down and consider it.

I may have missed it, but were there any actual threats in what he said? If there were no threats, then I don't see how they can justify raising the alert level. In fact, if they were going to do it, they should have done it on the "american al qaeda" tape (sure it's not actually the Jedi kid?) which was issuing threats.

I'm still at work, so I will be watching the news tonight and see what they say. IF all OBL does is just say that Bush is an idiot, then I don't see how that makes a major impact for Bush, no matter how hard the RW spins it.

[archineas]

32. kick

for sensibility's sake

[necso]

33. kick

[Stephanie]

34. Has Kerry responded?

Just got home - did he make a statement?