Politics of Fear vs. Democracy

http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/031604A.shtml

If terrorists draw the lesson from Spain that mass murder can change an election, then the United States, among other countries, could be in for a terrible October surprise. But it seems likely that a terrorist act in the United States aimed at defeating President Bush at the polls would instead ensure his reelection.

The Spanish immediately reacted to the bombing in Madrid with a mental feat that is considered, if not impossible, at least impermissible in the United States. They simultaneously condemned the terrorists and demanded to know what role their own government had played in causing the terror.

To many outside the United States, this ability to walk and chew gum at the same time seems obvious and predictable. It would not be surprising if a terrorist group expected to be able to produce it in the United States as well. I expected it in the United States when I wrote this woefully ignorant column on September 11, 2001: http://www.davidswanson.org/columns/sept11.htm

But the US just doesn't work the way other countries do. When the airplanes hit the buildings, the popularity of the president and of the mayor of New York immediately soared. Bush is still bragging about it today. And, following September 11th, our government immediately escalated the very behaviors that seemed most likely to produce more terrorist attacks.

more at link.

the Spaniards actually THINK and are better informed than their
US sheeple counterparts, thus I don't believe that the same effect
would occur here. Quite the contrary, I think that the US people
would not only vote shrub in...but would be extremely willing to
accept martial law and the activation of the true patriot act powers.


We're being setup...