Progressive Minds

Republicans (and their friends in the media) have been falling all over themselves to equate a victory for Democrats at the polls this November, wtih a victory for terrorists.

Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah is quoted by the Salt Lake Tribune as saying: "Terrorists are waiting for the Democrats here to take control, let things cool off and then strike again."

Hatch has plenty of company.

Dick Cheney suggested that Ned Lamont's victory over Joe Lieberman might encourage the "Al Qaeda types." 

An anchor on CNN's Headlines News asked the question "...might some argue, as some have, that Lamont is the al Qaeda candidate?"

Fox News' Cal Thomas wrote in his colum that Ned Lamont's victory "completes the capture of the Democratic Party by its Taliban wing."

Republicans might think that terrorists are itching for Democrats to take control this November.

But the CIA had another assessment during the 2004 Presidential campaign.

Remember the October surprise of the 2004 Presidential campaign?  It came just four days before Americans went to the polls to vote.  A videotape of Osama bin Laden was released.  In the tape, he criticized George W. Bush.

Many Bush supporters claimed the videotape was proof that Osama wanted John Kerry to win the election. 

But the CIA had another view.

During a 5:00 PM meeting on October 29, 2004 (the day the videotape was released), Deputy CIA Director John McLaughlin began by stating "Bin-Laden certainly did a nice favor today for the President."  CIA officers gathered around the tabled nodded in agreement at McLaughlin's assessment that Osama had done Bush a favor.

So just why did Osama want Bush to remain in office a few more years?  Why was he threatened by the prospect of a President John Kerry?

Some CIA analysts felt that in part, Osama realized that Bush's policies, including the Guantanamo prison camp, the death and torture of Iraqis at Abu Ghraib, and the ongoing violence in Iraq, were helping Al Qaeda recruit an entire new generation of jihadists.  In short: George Bush was Osama's most effective recruitment poster. Jami Miscik, CIA Deputy Associate Director for Intelligence, said "Certainly, he would want Bush to keep doing what he’s doing for a few more years."

According to Ron Suskind in his new book The One Percent Doctrine, the CIA analysts fell silent, as the hard truths began to sink in for them. And they wondered, what did it say about U.S. policy that Osama wanted Bush to keep doing his thing for four more years.

What's more, I think it's time we had politicians who wanted to appeal to our best interests and hopes, not play to our worst fears.

And I believe that former President Clinton had it just right when he said during a campaign event for Sen. John Kerry in 2004: "One of Clinton's laws of politics is this: If one candidate's trying to scare you, and the other one's trying to get you to think; if one candidate's appealing to your fears, and the other one's appealing to your hopes; you better vote for the person who wants you to think and hope."

Hatch says Demo win could help terrorists

Headline News Anchor: ‘Might Some Argue That Lamont…Is The al Qaeda Candidate?’

Cal Thomas: Lamont's victory "completes the capture of the Democratic Party by its Taliban wing"

George Bush and Osama bin Laden, Sittin' In A Tree....