Posted on 09/08/2004 6:39:01 PM PDT by Angry Republican
October Surprise is a term ascribed to a political revelation that is meant to affect the outcome of a presidential election. Former Jimmy Carter staffer Gary Sick, alleged that Ronald Reagan sprung an October Surprise by secretly negotiating with Iran to keep Americans held hostage in the U.S. Embassy until after the election was over, thereby costing Carter a second term. Absurd was the word that described Sick's silly conspiracy theory.
But October Surprises have occurred. In the last election, an Al Gore campaign operative leaked word to the press that a young George Bush was stopped on suspicion of drunk driving years earlier. It undoubtedly cost Bush thousands of votes.
Both the Kerry and Bush campaigns are likely bracing for October Surprise revelations this year. But the most likely October Surprise may come from forces abroad. Homeland Security believes Al Qaeda is planning a major fall attack.
Last March, Al Qaeda-linked terrorists set off 10 bombs on a commuter train in Spain, killing nearly 200 and injuring more than a thousand. The plan was to cost the then-current government, which had been tough on terrorism, the upcoming election. The plan worked and a new prime minister weak on defense took office.
Al Qaeda is likely looking to repeat its success in America. The terrorist leaders would dearly love to see President Bush replaced with Senator Kerry who has a weak Senatorial record when it comes to national defense and fighting terrorism. But launching an October Surprise attack may reawaken Americans to the terrorist threats we face and it could affect a November election outcome that would surprise Al Qaeda leaders.
And that's the Point.
I'm Mark Hyman
"What I am getting at here is that there is a malicious and sinister objective within the heart of the Left. It craves totalitarianism, because totalitarianism will suffocate freedom and, ultimately, human life itself – which the Left hates the most."
Victor Davis Hanson
Hillary flying on her broom in October is not very surprising.
Ooops, that was blank!
I was trying to say that if they hit one of our schools, hell hath no fury....
What, like saying Laura Bush used and sold drugs in college? That George W. Bush did coke at Camp David?
The ring of hysteria that colors all their accusations is not going to serve the Democrats well this election.
Kitty Kelley?.....Please.
Aren't the Swift Vets planning an October suprise???
"Stoned Hippie Party" That has legs.
Either a Toricelli-style switch giving the candidacy to She Who Must Not Be Named; or an al-Qaeda attack on Halloween, two day before the election, just like in Madrid.
I don't know what the October surprise is going to be this year, but I am getting the feeling that there is going to be a November surprise for the Michael Moore's and Barbra Streisand's when President Bush gets re-elected!
AMEN!!
George H.W. Bush was done in by the "indictment" of Casper Weinberger just prior to the election by the special prosecutor. There was no prosecution and the charges were dropped after the election, but it had the desired effect.
Along that line, I have worried about Bush leaving Clinton U.S. Attorneys in place. I wonder if one of the Clinton hang-overs could be preparing an indictment of some high Bush official over the prosecution of the war. If it were late enough in the cycle it could generate a LOT of negative vibrations which could stir the pot. Even totally baseless charges would provide just the fodder the MSM could run with for a few weeks just prior to the election.
Victor Davis Hanson
What an indictment! Where is this from? I read VDH a lot and can't recall this one. Please source me on this. TIA
FMCDH(BITS)
Wow, do you have a link for the piece from which that Hanse\on quote came?
The people of the U.S. aren't purebred poodles and spaniels who piddle on the carpet when someone yells, "Boo!" We are big mix breed mutts with a little timber wolf thrown in who will tear the throats out of people who try this crap here.
What about POW/MIA. Didn't Kerry do something to impede finding POWs?
LOL! What a great description!
October surprise: official report from Libya admitting that they were working on nukes for Saddam Hussein.
Politics and news cycles have changed so drastically since 1980 that the phrase hardly applies today.
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