NFL Threat:: Desperation or Real?

[RestoreGore]

Sure, it is easy to state that this is once again just another ruse at election time to scare people. However, considering these people had warnings about 9.11 and it still happened, and they had warnings about the levees in New Orleans and did nothing, why should I feel secure in believing them when they say there is now nothing to worry about regarding this threat?

My husband works in security at one of these locations and is a good hard working man who goes beyond his duties to protect the patrons at every event, and that job has only become harder and much more stressful since 9.11. And now because of this supposed threat, he and all of those who work with him in security will have an added stress from the usual stress on them and so do I, because I am truly concerned for their safety.

I am not confident at all that this country is any safer than it was before 9.11. As a matter of fact we are in even more danger, and I remember how easy it was for a vehicle to carry a weapon into a building because I was working in NYC in 93 one block from the WTC when it was hit the first time, and I won't ever forget that.

I not only believe this administration is inept, I also believe it is now desperate. I keep reading about Democrats coasting to a blow out in the elections next month (and I actually wish the tone of that bragging would quiet a bit until it is over) and I wonder, what are these people who are now like cornered rats really capable of doing to keep power? And do any of you truly believe that even if one small bomb were to go off in one stadium that elections would be held in two weeks? And yes, nothing will probably happen, but the fact that I believe it can is very disturbing to me.

And again, the timing of the Military Commissions Act and also the contract given to Halliburton to build "detention centers" in case of an "emergency" is declared truly frightens me to the point where I believe we have slipped into the abyss, and there is now no way to get out. I used to think it was beyond comprehension that this country would ever get to this point, but it isn't a stretch for me to see it now and as an American who never thought I would see it here it sickens me.

I feel so ambivalent about this threat because on the one hand I can definitely see it as an election stunt to keep people afraid. However, I also know that through the actions of the last few decades, not jsut years, that we have made more enemies who are just as determined to see this country hurt than ever before, combined with an adminsitration obsessed with maintaining power. So yes, I am afraid of this threat, and I am afraid for where this country is turning. As one man questioned on my local news last night said about this threat... it is sad, because all he wants to do is go to a football game with his son and have an enjoyable day. Unfortunately, I think those day are gone in this country, and that is really the saddest part of all of this whether this is real or memorex.

So for those who think this is just a ruse and that we can never ever be attacked in any way in this country, ease my concerns.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. Let's see: October. GOP failing. IraqNam falling apart. the natives are

restless.

Is it a ruse? how much more evidence do we need, especially when after publicizing the "threat", the government immediately calls it "not credible"?

If it were not credible, why publicize it, other than to scare people into voting GOP?

[Ian David]

2. It was an anonymous message post on a crappy humor site

It went something like...

Penis joke

Penis joke

Dirty bombs at football games

Japanese Anime is cool

Penis joke

[LSK]

3. you have to ask???

:rofl:

[RestoreGore]

6. yes, so sorry to have brought my concern here,,,

I'm sure the people who lost loved ones on 9.11 because this government claimed a threat was not real would appreciate you laughing in my face.

[LSK]

20. nice profile n/t

[uppityperson]

23. great minds indeed

I was more polite though.

[RestoreGore]

26. And your point?

It lists everything anyone needs to know. What is the point of that in reference to what was being discussed? You had nothing else? And yes, I had to ask.

[Lerkfish]

4. homeland security calls the threat noncredible

additionally, how many of the last flailing "real" threats turned out to be bogus and politically motivated....wait for it...wait for it....

oh yeah, ALL of them.

[radfringe]

10. scared enough NOT to attend? I think NOT!!!

[RestoreGore]

34. True...

But then, I'm not too trusting of Homeland Security's competence either. And I really dislike that title. It sounds so nazilike.

[hedgehog]

5. Here's the best part.

Say it's true. Say security at the stadiums is perfect and the bomber can't get in. So now you have a bomber driving around a major American city with a bomb in back. HAving been thwarted at the stadium, he just decides to drive the bomb back home.

We keep having stupid scares at home while the Bush administration has starved the program that was set up by Clinton to round up all the loose radioactive material floating around the old Soviet Union. Really makes sense,huh?

[uppityperson]

16. oh well, I'll forget about it, go home and have a cup of coffee instead

Yup, no place else that you could do this at, especially if someone posted a warning about 1 certain type of event. I mean, really! It just isn't done!

[hedgehog]

22. It just goes to show that Bush would rather talk about fighting terrorism

and get us into pointless shooting wars than actually do something about it!

[Hugin]

7. It's a Booga... Booga... Booga...

If you will recall it was the Homeland Security Department which
rushed off to arrest 'The Jon B.' killer recently.

This threat has *LESS* credibility than that arrest.

We all know what happened.

[RestoreGore]

12. it still doesn't mean I can't be concerned

Whether this particular threat is credible or not, the fact that it is possible to happen here (and in reality without all of the partisan political bs attached it is possible) does concern me. I think those who continue to yuk it up as if none of this is real just because they are putting their politics first are ignorant.

Terrorism was here long before Bush, and it will be here long after he is gone after only feeding it's flame. To not be concerned at ALL is imo foolhearty. I suppose then that Democrats calling for our ports to be secured is just political then, because this threat is not real? I came here to express an honest concern about a loved one and I get laughed at. These bastards have made us enemies, as well as being capable of pulling something off themselves because they now have the power to do so. Either possible scenario is not one I feel confortable with, so I am still concerned and will not be relieved until I see my husband walk through our door Sunday night. Think of that what you will.

[uppityperson]

44. you complain of complacency AND of Dems working at security?

OK. You can express honest concerns, many of us have done this at times. BUT, saying those of us who do not believe THIS threat (NFL) is real makes any of us ignorant, or complacent, is insulting. I also do not understand why you say because we do not believe any 1 threat is real means we believe no threat is real, and why Dems calling for port security is somehow bad. Bah

[Liberal_Dog]

8. Theatre Of The Absurd

eom

[One_Life_To_Give]

9. Target and Weapon don't match

You have a target with alot of people who are only there for a short period of time. Matched with a weapon that does it's maximum damage over a sustained period of time. The most dangerous part of a dirty bomb in such a scenario is the conventional explosive. The radiological part will only serve to force the remaining games scheduled at that stadium to be played elsewhere for the rest of just this year.

In short if I had gone to the trouble to make a "Dirty Bomb". I wouldn't be wasting it by setting it off in a football stadium.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

49. Yeah, especially at that football stadium in New York.

Thank God, they want to go after the stadium in New York. I'll be safe watching my team at our stadium in NEW JERSEY.

:rofl:

[Catchawave]

11. dKos has some info:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/10/19/9725/9858

[lectrobyte]

13. You are probably way more at risk to getting killed by slipping in

the shower or putting a fork in a toaster, than by any dirty bomb. I think this is just another attempt to increase the general fear level so the scared will vote for the Republicans to keep us "safe."

[RestoreGore]

15. Yeah, because "voting" is all poor people trying to survive think about

This just clinches it for me. Politics is BS. And will any Democrat then call them out on this because of the undue stress it is causing people who work these venues? Of course not. Again, politics is BS.

[uppityperson]

17. you don't think repubs are trying to manipulate people to retain control?

People are ruled by their emotions and, for some odd reason, people are scared by these alerts, then think "Oh wow, nothing happened! Mr.bush kept us safe!" Then voting happens and they are scared again, so who do they vote for? Many people are too busy trying to survive to be able to spend a lot of time investigating truth in political BS.

You think politics is BS? Well, welcome to DU, but why are you here?

Edited to add, to OP: of course there are real threats. Remember Timothy McVeigh? He was a nasty person who killed a bunch of people. Car accidents kill lots of people too, every single day. The problem with these big "BOO!" scare things is that, while you have a perception of being under control most of the time like driving to an event, you fear something happening outside your control. Which is worse? A commercial jet crash because someone did it on purpose or a commercial jet crash because of mechanical failure? Which is scarier? There will always be threats. But politicians manipulate people's emotions for their own gains. LIke this.

[Hugin]

21. or a commercial jet crash due to negligence...

How come nobody has a '!' moment over that?

It's entirely preventable and much more likely to happen than mechanical failure.

[uppityperson]

24. "at least it wasn't terror!" reporter emotes breathlessly!

pisses me off

[RestoreGore]

25. I think politics is BS

Because those doing the manipulating are never called out on it by the opposition! It's because of there being no opposition on calling out this BS they pull for what it is that they even have control in the first damn place. And of COURSE I think Republicans are trying to manipulate people, but this is politics and all sides do it. So I'm here to express my opinion on that. Is that not allowed here?

Bottomline: The threat of terrorism here is unfortunately real and I was expressing concern about that regardless of this threat, and wonder why people continue to dismiss it for political reasons as if admitting that is somehow giving credibility to these jackasses. I think it is actually a very bad reflection on them.

I will just be relieved to see my husband home safe Sunday night after having to go to work and deal with the added stress of a job that shouldn't have to be like that... with the FBI, Secret Service, and God knows what other agencies being sent there to deal with this non credible threat at taxpayer expense. Not because I am out of my mind with paranoia and fear and am thinking of running to the nearest voting booth to vote Republican, but because I am sincerely concerned about this and don't trust this inept, power hungry, desperate administration which has now dragged good people into their BS to do anything right.

[uppityperson]

28. there is a difference between a real threat and a made up one.

That is why I scoff at this warning, I think it is a made up one to scare people. That is why I dismiss it, nothing to do with giving credibility to these jackasses (as you put it). Of course there are people who want to hurt you, me, our families. But I am tired of "the boy who cried wolf while ignoring the cougar actually eating the goats". It is difficult to know what or whom to believe, due to this stuff happening, and them ignoring real threats. However, I will not give them credit for "keeping us safe" from all these threats as they have not. Hope your husband has a peaceful night at work.

[RestoreGore]

31. I didn't give them credit either

And hope that cougar doesn't actually become successful here again because of political expedience or complacency.

[uppityperson]

41. you mean like ignoring warnings from Clinton's people because

they were Clinton's people's warnings, so 911 happened? I can understand that fear.

[lectrobyte]

27. Huh? I said nothing about what the people voting think, poor or

otherwise. I'm talking about the media and gov't. From what I can see of poor people, the ones that are die-hard Repubs, it's more of a religious thing and a belief that they'd be rich except for the "tax and spend democrats" who got all their money.

[MikeNearMcChord]

14. I wonder what the threat is?

Does it involve Blimps with explosive charges filled with nails, piloted by crazed Vietnam Vets who look like Bruce Dern?

[zbdent]

18. someone mentioned that the food during the tailgate parties

gives him gas ... and things just snowballed from there ...

[Xenotime]

19. Just another GOP scare tactic. Fortunately they were caught in their...

own lies before anything could happen.

[redqueen]

29. Why? Why ease your concerns?

What if it's real? Do you want people here changing your mind? It seems to me you're just arguing with them, so what is your real motivation here? What do you want?

Bottom line is this: we cannot live in fear.

If you're that afraid... if your husband is that afraid... then he should quit his job and get another one that's safer.

But if that's not an option, then how's this for one? Elect members of a party that you trust to do an effective job of keeping this country safe. Because at the end of the day, other than quitting any risky jobs and moving out of high-risk cities, that's the only option you have.

Which party would fit that bill, in your opinion?

[RestoreGore]

33. I was being facetious about easing my concerns,,,

I just posted that since so many seem to think the threat here in general isn't real. And no party fits that bill for me because it just isn't possible. Terrorism isn't going to disappear just because Democrats or Republicans get elected, and for both Republicans and Democrats to use this as an issue just to get votes is deceptive, and wasn't the perceptive I posted this from. And what do I want? I want to not have to think the way I am thinking now, but again, I think we have passed the point where that is possible and it disturbs me. And my husband isn't afraid and I never claimed that. I'm not "afraid" in that sense either nor do I live my life in fear, but I am fearful of where this is leading our country based on the power those in this administration have now been given, and yes, concerned that at some point something is going to give which was what lead to the title of my post. Amazing how that was twisted here.

[redqueen]

35. You're all over the place. I don't trust you.

Who said ANY party could make terrorism "disappear"? This issue has been around for decades. Centuries, really.

You claim that both parties are just 'using this as an issue' well DUH! If you can't stand the complexities and vagaries of politics, there's other websites to spend your time on, you know. You're not going to convince anyone here that it's pointless to vote for Democrats. All the non-trolls here know very well that even though Dems can't, as you seem to expect, wave a magic fairy want and make all the bad people go bye-bey... that they CAN -- and HAVE -- done a better job of protecting this country from terrorist attacks, and instituting foreign policies that prevent the creation of anti-American terrorists.

Don't believe me? WHY?

And really... it wasn't amazing at all... considering how all over the place your posts are. The issue is real... but the parties are just using it to scare people... nobody can do any good... mmm hmm.

[RestoreGore]

36. I'm not all over the place

You are the one trying to start an argument with me because I claimed I was concerned about the threat this weekend as if that somehow makes me a TRAITOR to the Democratic Party, which is BS. Again, it will only take one "emergency" for Bush to get what he really wants, and above any damned terrorist doing anything, do you not think this administration might even be comtemplating doing something along those lines to get what they really want if they are that desperate to maintain power? I explained that very well in the original post, but you come back with you don't trust me? How shameful that people in this country who are Americans first instead of playing these partisan BS games with every subject are treated so badly on forums because they won't play the game. Well hey, whatever.

The day Bush and his gang are impeached is the day I will believe ANYONE really cares about the security of this country, because they are the biggest threat to it right now, which you would have gotten from my original post if you bothered to comprehend what you were reading. And calling someone a troll because they don't follow the talking points here and can think for themselves only shows the reason why voter turnout is so low in general in this country of late. Again, I am not concerned about this because I want to push REPUBLICANS, I am concerned because this administration CAUSED THIS, and I am concerned now as to how far they are now willing to go to get what they want and what they may have really unleashed that they will overlook. And in this particular case, someone I love is part of it and that concerns me as well. Undertstand now?

[redqueen]

37. It's been done before... this isn't new, so why the hysteria?

But go ahead... panic... hyperventilate... bemoan the horrible world we live in.

Let me know how that works out for ya.

[RestoreGore]

39. Go ahead, be complacent

Then bitch and moan the next time Bush signs a bill taking away more of your rights or attacking another country that makes more enemies putting this country more at risk because you gave him the power. If you (in general) live in this world and care about it you should be concerned about where the chain of events of late will lead us. If you are not, you are simply ignorant. And I don't see any hysteria here.

[uppityperson]

43. Who is being complacent here? What are YOU doing to solve the problem?

Are you an election monitor? Are you contacting your congressional reps? Are you financially supporting someone's campaign? Or are you being concerned and hence, not "simply ignorant"?

[RestoreGore]

45. Yes I am. Anymore questions?

[uppityperson]

47. Yes, you are what? Complacent? Monitering?Concerned? What?

To repeat: "Who is being complacent here? What are YOU doing to solve the problem? Are you an election monitor? Are you contacting your congressional reps? Are you financially supporting someone's campaign? Or are you being concerned and hence, not "simply ignorant"?"

[uppityperson]

42. wtf?

title of your post is "NFL Threat: Desperation or Real?" Now you say "so many seem to think the threat here in general isn't real" and complain that we are twisting your words? You start with a specific threat, then when we say we don't think this specific threat is real you say we don't think general threat is real and we have twisted your title?

And you seem to be saying that we think threats will disappear if a specific party gets in power?

[dkofos]

30. How about "REAL DESPERATION"

[Greyhound]

32. To live in fear is a victory for the all of the real terrorists.

That is, those that seek to control you and bend you to their will. Defeating them is as simple as refusing to play.

Why is it so hard to understand that nothing but the NYC skyline changed after 9/11. 3000 of our fellows were killed, their families and friends have suffered and we grieve with them, but on the grand scale, nothing has changed except our perception.

We are all food for worms, all else is timing, and since we all face exactly the same fate, what is gained from living in fear? Every time you don't do something that you would enjoy doing out of fear that something bad might happen, you diminish your life and surrender your power to them.

[RestoreGore]

38. I agree

And I don't live in fear, but I can be concerned about the way this world is going because of actions taken since 9.11. However, based on your response, are you saying that attacking Iraq hasn't caused more terrorism in this world? That it hasn't made us more enemies?

[Greyhound]

40. Quite the contrary, it is the perception of a non-existent threat that

lead to allowing the invasion to happen in the first place. Fear, and those that use it, is what has always caused the problems we face.

As I constantly have to remind my SO, worry has no upside, it won't stop whatever it is you're worrying about from happening, but instead makes it more likely, and if it doesn't happen, it is simply a waste of time and generates negative energy.

[BoneDaddy]

46. I think the way to approach this is with

cautious awareness. It is only a matter of time before we suffer another attack. This isn't fear mongering, it is the truth and the reality. The antipathy we have caused around the world means it is just a matter of time before something occurs, whether it is orchestrated by outsiders or, quite possibly, insiders who are looking to disrupt the election process to keep the folks in power, in control.

I don't trust this government and look to something big before the elections. But I think this will backfire, as Americans are starting to wake up.

Regarding football games. Like any sport that draws tens of thousands of people, they need to be considered as legitimate targets. Where else can you find that many people in such a small proximity. So we need to be cautious and not let terror rule our lives. It is a fine line to walk where we keep aware but not let the fear rule.

[bobbieinok]

48. do bushco and friends read Clancy novels??

--one had a plance flying into a building (congress, I think)

--one had a plan to blow up a stadium during a game