The fate of the Republican party?

[Kitsune]

...and there's another terrorist attack, the country will be incensed due to the fact that GW Bush got us to that point.

I actually don't know if this would be the case. Bush and his administration thrive on fear because he has successfully provided what the public thinks are solutions to the terrorist problem. Mind you, I think they're all illusions, but think back to when the country was worried about remote controlled airplanes loaded with explosives and everyone had an emergency kit that contained duct tape and plastic sheeting cut to the size of a designated safe room. At that time the public was, overall, ready to give up any of their civil liberties in exchange for protection from terrorists and everyone was shouting that in times of emergency we should all stand, as Americans, behind our president and not question authority.

My thoughts some months ago was that there would be two things that would secure Bush's election as president of this country: Osama bin Laden being captured or a terrorist attack (either real or imagined). Irrational fears instilled in the masses through silly warnings of potential terror and sensational media alerts did wonders to cloud everyone's reason and blind them to the actions of the administration. An actual attack, I think, would have everyone "singing jingo-bells" all over again and we'd see more images on television of scared caucasian children holding little American flags while being cradled in John Ashcroft's protective, manly arms. A failure to react on the part of the president would, again, be another shining moment.

Don't put your "terrorist hunting permit" or "never forget" stickers away yet, people.

[iamthewalrus109]

If we do get hit again, depending on the nature of the attack, there's real potential for backlash, judging from what GW Bush is running on, namely 9/11 and protecting America. With people voting for the man simply out of fear and a "protect me daddy" mentality, it stands to reason that any major attack on American soil will evoke a strong reaction towards Bush and the Republicans, with a "I only voted for you to protect me" type of mind set there could be hell to pay. On the other hand, if the threat is iminent of a nuclear attack, all this may be void anyway. If we get nuked, even with a primative device or dirty bomb, all bets are off as far as democracy is concerned, at least in the area that's been hit, if not the entire country. FEMA and a entirely miltary government would take over, along similar lines to those that were exposed in the 1986-1992 Iran Contra investigations. The curious part about all this is the remarkable quiet of terrorists since 9/11. A few bomings here and there sure, but no major attacks, and obviously none here. It really begs the question, are these forces being neutralized or are they just biding their time?

- Walrus