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BS: October Surprise Week
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Subject: BS: October Surprise Week From: GUEST Date: 24 Oct 04 - 01:57 PM Of course, it remains to be seen which side, or if both sides, will come out this week with an October Surprise. Can't have it pulled out of the hat much later than Thursday, or it won't have time to play out in the media echo chamber. Anyone here in a betting mood? |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: GUEST Date: 24 Oct 04 - 04:00 PM OK, so how about a little friendly wagering as to which day this week it will be sprung? I'm betting we'll see the OS come Wednesday. |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 24 Oct 04 - 07:12 PM One item might be the attack on Falluja. So long as they can ensure that the dead are Iraqis, or maybe Scots, rather than Americans, it could play well. |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 25 Oct 04 - 07:00 AM BOO! |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: Peter T. Date: 25 Oct 04 - 08:33 AM Go Red Sox! yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: Stilly River Sage Date: 25 Oct 04 - 10:08 AM Now the outcome of the World Series--that will be a nice October Surprise! Thanks for the reminder, Peter T. It's a much better use of the time than fighting wars. |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: Amos Date: 25 Oct 04 - 10:37 AM Or, how about Bush conceding and submitting a full confession to COngress? That would be sweet, eh? A |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 25 Oct 04 - 07:27 PM Now here's an October Surprise of a different sort - Explosives looted from Iraqi base (that's a link to the Conservative Daily Telegraph, for Doug's sake). All about the 350 tons or so explosive which was removed from an Iraqi military base after the after the invasion. "Iraq officials said the material was stolen because of inadequate security at government installations after the end of the war. While Google's news facility indicates there is pretty heavy coverage of this outside the USA, it looks a but thin in the American press - though maybe this reflects the fact that America is always a bit behind the times, because of the direction Earth turns. |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: Ebbie Date: 25 Oct 04 - 08:38 PM Here are a couple of American sites, among more than 10 pages on the subject: By WILLIAM J. KOLE, Associated Press Writer VIENNA, Austria - The U.N. nuclear agency warned Monday that insurgents in Iraq (news - web sites) may have obtained nearly 400 tons of missing explosives that can be used in the kind of car bomb attacks that have targeted U.S.-led coalition forces for months. The disappearance raised questions about why the United States didn't do more to secure the Al-Qaqaa facility 30 miles south of Baghdad and failed to allow full international inspections to resume after the March 2003 invasion. The White House played down the significance of the missing weapons, but Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry (news - web sites) accused President Bush (news - web sites) of "incredible incompetence" and his campaign said the administration "must answer for what may be the most grave and catastrophic mistake in a tragic series of blunders in Iraq." More PHILADELPHIA, United States (AFP) - Former president Bill Clinton (news - web sites) brought his political star power to shine on his Democratic party's candidate John Kerry (news - web sites), as President George W. Bush (news - web sites) was forced on the defensive over the disappearance of powerful explosives in Iraq (news - web sites). More |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: freda underhill Date: 25 Oct 04 - 09:05 PM Tuesday, October 26, 2004. 1:00am (AEST); Australians may have been target of bombing: Minister The Foreign Minister says Australians may have been the target of a suicide car bombing in Baghdad which injured three Australian soldiers. At least two Iraqis were killed in the blast near the Australian embassy and a local school. Two of the three Australian soldiers injured in the attack have now been released from hospital in Iraq and a third who suffered serious facial injuries is expected to make a full recovery after undergoing surgery. The blast hit a convoy of three Australian light armoured vehicles, it was witnessed by United States Army Major Scott Stanger. "It was an Iraqi taxi cab and it parked on the side of the road there waited for a target which was obviously the Australians and they blew up," he said. The Foreign Minister Alexander Downer had previously told Lateline it may never be known whether Australians were the target of the attack. "I couldn't really be sure I mean it's possible it was a specific attack on Australian vehicles," he said. |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: GUEST Date: 26 Oct 04 - 11:30 AM I'm with PeterT. Both the Yankees/Sox match up and the World Series are of more interest to me at this point than the election. Helluva fight the Sox put up in games 4 & 7 especially last week. And if the Sox take the Series, I will truly rejoice, as it would bring me great, though fleeting joy. If Beantown's favorite son wins the election, well...not so much to rejoice over. Go BoSox! |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: Amos Date: 26 Oct 04 - 11:57 AM Wonderful sense of perspectives, and an uncanny evaluation of relative importance. Given that Bush's last four years have worsened the history of the species on this planet in a distinctly sobering series of arrogant subrogations, it would seem possible that Kerry's next four might at least undo some of those. You who insist this is impossible do not appreciate the character of the man, IMHO. A signficantly more important possibility than one bunch of guys chasing a ball around better than another. A |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: GUEST Date: 26 Oct 04 - 12:04 PM The history of the species of the planet? Oh my! Amos, you are the one with the perspective problem. Take a few deep breaths. Life is good, and not so good under Dubya, as it was under Clinton, and will be under whoever wins the horse race next week. But the Red Sox? Now, if they can overcome the curse... |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 26 Oct 04 - 03:28 PM Here's another surpruse going "the wrong way" - Iraq Blames U.S.-Led Forces for Army Massacre - BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's U.S.-backed government said on Tuesday that "major neglect" by its American-led military allies led to a massacre of 49 army recruits at the weekend..." "We believe this issue was the outcome of major neglect by some parts of the multinational (forces)" |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: Bill Hahn//\\ Date: 26 Oct 04 - 08:54 PM The"October Surprises" so far have been ones that should surely favor Kerry. Stolen munitions (well covered, by the way here in the US), massacres of Iraqi recruits (blamed on us by the alleged Pres. of Iraq, and the usual "quagmire" of ill conceived planning that this adminstration cannot recognize due to its living in a parallel world. It also seems to me that besides looking Presidential Kerry is speaking Presidential. Whereas I first thought of an anti W vote I now truly am happy to consider a pro Kerry vote. He is getting more impressive each day. Do we find honesty and the ability to change the course of world events? I don't know. It is a hard thing nowadays to contemplate. Do I think that Kerry is more open to ideas? You Bet!!!.. Last thought---our Supreme Court. Rehnguist. Sorry for his condition, but one has to also take that into consideration. Given that the Mighty Robed Ones are appointees for life one has to hope that W does not get to appoint his zealots that follow his religious and far right agenda with a turn of the back to the constitution and objectivity. Bill Hahn |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: Bobert Date: 26 Oct 04 - 09:36 PM Come on, ya' all.... Sure I'm real glad the RedSox is in the series and hope they win it all but, hey, it's not too late for an Osoma capture, 'er a terrorists attack. Okay, I'll have to admit that the attack is relatively unlikely seein' as it would just help IKerry and that would not make the terrorists too happy. But back to Osoma... Hey, even an Osoma double... The munitions theft, or possible theft since the Bush folks say it wasn't there to be stolen but they're not sure 'cause they didn't look, ain't gonna do any real damage 'cause the Bush folks are so accustomed to lieing and the American people are so accustomed to believin' their lies... Might of fact, given the gulibility of the American public in general maybe another 9/11 wouldn't hurt Bush. His folks would spin it in a manner to blame Kerry... I mean, really, what could come out that isn't spinable. Photo of Bush and Condi in a motal room? Doctored by them mean sprited Dems. Another pretzel incident but this time behind the wheel of a car and Junior blows an .014. No problem. Kerry abducted him, poured alcohol into him, put him behind the wheel with a Kerry supportin' cop right there to do the rest... Face it Dems... Ain't nuthin' gonna hurt Bush... As fir Kerry, if he so much as wears a tie with a stain on it, he is doomed... So, I reckon that any OS is gonna be the final nail in Kerry's election coffin... Bobert |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 27 Oct 04 - 07:53 AM Producing Osama out of a hat at this point might backfire - it surely would look so much like a trick that it could stir up all the half-dormant suspicions about what has happened previously. Including 9/11 itself. |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: Stilly River Sage Date: 27 Oct 04 - 10:05 AM For the "October Surprise" I was backing the formation of an economic cushion that Bush could ride to the White House. My theory (and I still think this was the plan) was that the Saudis were going to lower the price of oil and let the price of gas go way back down in these couple of months prior to the election. No matter how many pundits have sophisticated views of the body politic, it would have come down to Joe Schmoe who doesn't give a rat's ass about anything except a cheap tank of gas. Get those good ol' boys out to vote and Dubya was in. Trouble is, the 5000-member Saudi royal family has been drinking and running drugs and fornicating themselves into a hard place there in the old country (see the ABC news report from 20/20 a couple of weeks back, in which cameramen and reporters were roughed up and tapes stolen and destroyed). They're trying to sweep back the tide of resentment in their own country, among the well-heeled male voters who are eligible to vote over there. I think this messed up Dubya's plan. There is one thing that, if George thought he could take credit might make a difference, but I don't think he's politically swift enough to figure out: Sharon has had a sudden epiphany and realizes he must move the settlers out of the Gaza Strip. All hell has broken loose in his own party, but he'll form a coalition with Labor and more forward. The popular view has for some time now been that Israel doesn't need to support a slim ultra-fanatic population of 8000 "settlers" who have cherry-picked the prime land in an area with millions of Palestinians. The bad feelings and hundreds or thousands of soldiers required to support those zealots simply aren't worth it. It's a pointless point of principle to hold onto that region. The Israeli populace says let that land go to the Palestinians and thereby start a meaningful peace process. If Bush caught onto that, he could latch onto Sharon's coattails. If Israel settles down in the Middle East, others will follow. Boy, couldn't Bush use that right now. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: Amos Date: 27 Oct 04 - 10:07 AM And he could distort it and say it was all a direct exptension of his roadmap to peace. Wotta strategm -- do you think he might figger it out? A |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: Stilly River Sage Date: 27 Oct 04 - 10:17 AM Let's just hope that Karl and Condoleeza don't read Mudcat threads! SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: GUEST,el Santo Secreto de Open Mike Date: 27 Oct 04 - 10:18 AM ¿Dónde, oh donde está el hombre, Osama bin Laden? |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: Stilly River Sage Date: 29 Oct 04 - 08:28 AM OH THERE IT IS!!! October 29, 2004, a mere four days from the election! Released in time to heat up the spin for Bush, but not enough time for Kerry to point out that it's a plant, intended to draw the (non-existent) connections between Al Qaeda/Bin Laden and Saddham--it's the American Al Qaeda. Think about it: That's it, in a nutshell. Gotta take my kiddo to school. Let's just see how this little Karl Rove stink bomb mushrooms, shall we? SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: maggiethecat Date: 29 Oct 04 - 08:43 AM Yup |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: GUEST,S Hill Date: 29 Oct 04 - 08:59 AM I hope the mushroom cloud is where the naysayers live, not where I live. |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: Nerd Date: 29 Oct 04 - 04:08 PM This is pretty lame, though... |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: Stilly River Sage Date: 29 Oct 04 - 04:41 PM Yes, it is lame, I agree entirely, but given the right amount of spin on someplace like FOX, don't you suppose it's enough to scare a few folks? |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: Jack the Sailor Date: 29 Oct 04 - 05:29 PM How about Osama talking about "my pet goat"? Yes... today his on tape bashing Bush. |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: Once Famous Date: 29 Oct 04 - 05:49 PM Nice grammar, Jack. Is that some kind of Alabama speak? |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 29 Oct 04 - 07:20 PM The US Al Qaida one has all the marks of a fake. Whether it's a semi-offical fake, a semi-unofficial fake, or an entirely private effort, that's open to speculation. The Bin Laden one seems genuine, though I'm sure there'll be conspiracy theories about it. On balance, I'd have thought it should help Bush, and I'd say that's probably one aspect of the thinking behind it, and the timing. But it could work the other way. I'd have thought the main idea would be to ensure a massive audience, and massive media coverage at the heart of the election as the world's eyes are focused on it - this is show business. Either way he wins. If it pushes people towards putting Bush in, he's got the best recruiting sergeant in the world for Al Qaida back in the White House. If Kerry gets in, that will be spun by a whole lot of people as being because of this tape, which increases Bin Laden's street cred round the world. |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: CarolC Date: 29 Oct 04 - 11:27 PM "Azzam the American" sounds like a name that Karl Rove would come up with. |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: dianavan Date: 30 Oct 04 - 12:49 AM McGrath - I think you are right! Bin Laden wins but I also think Bush wins. Thats why I think they are in this together. The American people will see Bin Laden as a cunning individual and swing their vote to Bush, thinking that Bush is the only one ruthless enough to capture him. Of course they never will capture him but they can use it as an excuse to invade almost any country in the middle east and clamp down on security at home. If Kerry wins... What a f***ing movie! d |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: Little Hawk Date: 30 Oct 04 - 01:08 AM I get the impression that Osama can't understand why the American people don't realize their own freedom is being destroyed by the very people who claim to be protecting it (the US government). His message appears to be directed to the ordinary American public. He compares the Bush family to the corrupt monarchs who rule in the Middle East, like the Saudi royal family. Both Bush and Kerry will try very hard to use Osama's tape to their own advantage. What a movie indeed! I am frankly a bit worried about Oct 31st Hallowe'en this year. What if there is some huge attack in the USA and Bush uses it to declare a "state of emergency" and suspend the election? It's possible. Well, my worrying won't do any good, so I am going to just sign off and hope for the best...which is that nothing will happen, Bush will lose the election, and the Democratic and Republican parties will both admit to being a gang of lying crooks and disband themselves! (What an optimistic notion...) |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: Ellenpoly Date: 30 Oct 04 - 03:02 AM Jeez, Little Hawk! Thanks for giving me my Halloween Scare early! The last part? That would be better than a load of chocolate. ..xx..e |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: dianavan Date: 30 Oct 04 - 02:19 PM Little Hawk -"He compares the Bush family to the corrupt monarchs who rule in the Middle East, like the Saudi royal family." I doubt if he was referring to the Saudi royal family. I think he was referring to Iran. That statement justifies the ruling Mullahs. d |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: GUEST Date: 30 Oct 04 - 05:36 PM he was prolly talking bout all of the mid east rulers |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: Little Hawk Date: 30 Oct 04 - 05:48 PM Yeah, I'd say he meant pretty well all of them too. |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 31 Oct 04 - 01:34 AM Ah! 2 October surprises! 1) Bin Laden saying 'Don't vote for George' which will guarantee a backlash. Are we sure it's not a CIA fake message? Bin Laden is being kept prisoner in Guantanamo Bay, being forced to make propaganda tapes to keep certain Big Business Cults in power... 2) The British 'Write to an American Voter' Campaign - guaranteed to generate a backlash - thus ensuring George gets back in. Actually if the US wants to be World Sheriff, then the rest of us are entitled to tell the sheriff whether we thinks he is doing a good job... It may, if kept up every US Presidential Election, eventually assist in making Americans become more mature, as they realise the actions of the USA impinge on the citizens of other countries... Robin |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: Wolfgang Date: 05 Oct 06 - 10:41 AM refresh Wolfgang |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: Stilly River Sage Date: 05 Oct 06 - 11:08 AM Take your pick this year! |
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Subject: RE: BS: October Surprise Week From: Bunnahabhain Date: 05 Oct 06 - 11:55 AM A coaltion of world leaders do something useful, and create an extra day to make a three day weekend as standard, so we actually have enough time to fit half the things we meant to do into it... |
