[copycat]

"The Democrat Party is playing politics with Homeland Security while the American people are being gunned down in the street."

[copycat]

There is a strategy that will either win Republicans valuable votes in this years close election, or give them a victory in Congress on a contentious issue.

If Bush pushes hard for the Homeland Security act RIGHT NOW, with the sniper all over the airwaves, he could force the Dems to capitulate, or appear to care more about their own power than the security of a free state.

[Political Junkie Too]

Daschle: "We ought not go after the sniper until the issue of pensions for law enforcement workers is settled."

-PJ

[Wild Irish Rogue]

Paul Begala basically said tonight, that GW is responsible for the killings, because of the WH's coolness to the fingerprinting issue. Won't make any difference if the shooter is Osama bin Laden, the Democrats are ginning up to blame the gun nuts,ie: Republicans. Enron didn't work, the tax cut didn't work,Iraq didn't work-the Democrats are like drowning men-grasping at anything to save themselves and they think the sniper is their issue.

[copycat]

These snipers are not going to be caught so soon that this issue will not be going on for the next three weeks.

I truly hope the sniper(s) ARE caught ASAP, but even if they were caught tomorrow, the fresh memory of Americans being shot at random by an Islamist, contrasted with the Democrats holding up of the Homeland Security Act makes for a tasty TV spot.

[ChadGore]

Re: . .and signs are beginning to point towards that truth . .

It's still a big IF, and if we jump the gun and get it wrong, we're toast.

I agree that HOMELAND SECURITY is a homerun issue for us during midterms (the dems knowingly, willingly and intentionaly draged their feet for special interests). The amazing thing is, we owned that issue before the sniper, and we'll own it after the sniper is sniped.

We don't know who he/she/they is/are, and assuming may be political suicide.

The upside? The gun-grabbing-libs are going to alienate the swing voteers, increase NRA memership, and cost themselves seats in the process.

patience grasshopper :)

[Democrap]

IF the sniper is Al Queda then this must be about big oil. Bush wants to build a pipe line from the Oval Office to the four gas stations where the shootings occurred.

[Inyokern]

The shooter is obviously a Democrat. He doesn't work weekends.

[exit82]

The stock market hates uncertainty. The stock market went up 1,000 points since the Iraq resolution was passed.

[edwin hubble]

Watching Nightline right now (ABC).

They are presenting the sniper as terrorism. (de facto terrorism whether or not he is part of a terrorist group or not)... the same net effect on the public as intentional terrorism.

[RonF]

There's been too many examples of domestic terrorists or just plain looneys to make that presumption. The public certainly isn't. And as pointed out, if you jump the gun too soon, you'll reverse the effect you seek.

[js1138]

I think this issue will take care of itself without an aggressive push.

[BJungNan]

It's time to develop the slogans needed to illustrate that the left is playing politics with the safety of the American people.

Yea, and Bush is going to take action to close the Southern border. I don't think so.

[Waco]

Probably a demoncrap financed by the DNC. If so the GOP will quickly point out that it is definitely Al Queada!! NYT et al will do so as well!!

[Koblenz]

Well, the worse possible thing for the Democrats would be for this to be an Al Qaeda sniper using a gun that was brought into the country, and have him shot by a rural Virginian who happened to see him taking a shot at someone else. This would of course totally neutralize any gun control position -- he was stopped because someone was packing heat, and the sniper would have had a gun no matter how many laws you wrote.

[Robert_Paulson2]

...every time you vote for a Democrat...

...A terrorist sniper murders another American"

spread the word...

[John Jamieson]

Probably Potomac, MD Hizbollah cell, but same result.

PC police work may have cost many extra lives.

When you're in a war, check your enemies friends first.

[Pelham]

They can pretend they were always for border control and reduced immigration from the Islamic world.

[Robert_Paulson2]

It's time to develop the slogans needed to illustrate

here was my offering:
"everytime you vote democrat... another sniper murders an american"

[river rat]

IF - the snipers are associated with Al Queda - Muslims in this country are going to be really really really upset with the plunge in "respect" awaiting them....

Insurance companies will be approaching Mosques with the bad news that Fire Insurance is going to triple, or was cancelled.

If Muslims thought they were discriminated against after 9/11 - they haven't seen anything yet....

Their ONLY salvation --- is to TAKE ACTION to join the fight against terrorism - in a VERY PUBLIC and EFFECTIVE manner.. TURN IN those amongst them that are preaching hate, violence or supporting terrorists or terrorism.

They will no longer be able to blame everything on the Jews or a few bad seeds in Islam....

Religion of Peace...........my ass!

Semper Fi

[tonyinv]

President Bush has been talking about Homeland Security for months. Everytime he gets his mug in front of a camera he brings it up. It's not for his lack of talk, its the lack of coverage. If the media would layout the issues and name names then there would be action. But the Dems have always been protected by the media.

Take an honest poll explaining the issue holding up the bill and you'll see overwhelming support for the President's position. If only the Republicans had the f*cking brains to play the game but alas, they dont.

As for using the sniper/muderer as a campaign club, thats just plain bad taste, leave that to the democrats. This phoney issue with "balistic fingerprinting" will go nowhere, nor will any kind of further gun control. Would you want to be the democrat that tells the good folks of Maryland and Virginia that they are going to lose their right to protect themselves becuase of this incident? Remember that after 9/11 gun purchases went way up. If this turns out to be Al Queda, you'll see gun purchases skyrocket once again. The realization that the enemy is amongst us and active, will spur many to action.