So what does your gut say?

[catscradle]

So Bush isn't getting the support he needs in Congress to keep the troop surge going another 2 months. And low and behold! Chertoff is just totally SURE that terrorists are plotting to kill us all this summer? Why? Well he has a lot of credible evidence. We don't know what it is, but it's really, really credible! Terrorist get really mad in the summer. The heat maybe. Plus he's got a gut feeling about it.

Yes, he's got a gut feeling. And you know, the Bush administration ignored actual evidence of a terrorist attack when the Clinton administration showed them clear cut evidence and when regular citizens noticing weird shit on planes tried to warn them. But now we're going with gut feelings that just happen to coincide with a funding cut? Baaaaaaaaaa for them, folks.

If something does happen this summer, what will your gut feeling be?

Comments

Gut politics

[dralionkohaku.livejournal.com]

Here's what I thought would happen:

Sometime this winter / early spring (well before the summer conventions) there would be "an attack". This would give Homeland Security the excuse to suspend the constitution, close the borders and permanently delay the elections in favor of "crisis management". Of course, the crisis would not abate until such time as we're used to dictatorship in the raw, and viola! The "permanent republican party" rules on high. For the good of the people, of course. All Hail Halliburton.

I also thought that if I put things into motion quick enough, having recognized the pattern, I'd have the time to safeguard my own ass. Fall back, regroup, and take up a stronger position. Preferably on the other side of the border before it closed.

I'm the biggest cynic I know. Yet I may have been guilty of optimism. Should I apply for a passport today, forking over my $100 and original documents to the great maw of government, it will be months before I'm issued my papers. Expedite? Months still, plus another $60 at least.

Chertoff's gut will puke long before then.

And while I'm on the subject... let's chat briefly about these passports. We all need them now, right? Why? To "combat terrorists".

Except only a US citizen can obtain a US passport. And thus far the administration swears we've only been attacked by exterior sources. The logic escapes me. And with a system so cash strapped it makes no sense whatever to issue passports to give us the right to do what we've had the right to do all along!

Unless...

By ensuring that ALL travel across ALL borders is now governed by these little pieces of paper... it then makes it so much easier to take these little pieces of paper away. Should they desire to close the borders suddenly the expense of this passport fiasco makes sense.

Final thought. Who are we fighting today? Eurasia or Oceania?

Re: Gut politics

[catscradle.livejournal.com]

I agree with most of your points - but I was thinking about the passport issue today and I think now that the requirement is very necessary. It doesn't make sense in terms of the 9/11 attack coming from outside, as terrorists didn't have US passports, but it makes perfect sense in terms of the US requiring all people from other countries to have a passport. You cannot enact a policy like that and then expect other nations to take US citizens in without having the same requirement. It's really bad politcs. It's asking for special status for US citizens - you should trust us even if we don't trust you.

I don't know what's going to happen with all of this, but I do believe that if something does - I will not believe it's cause lies with Al Qaeda.

Re: Gut politics

[dralionkohaku.livejournal.com]

You make a good point re: fairness. And, though I could see how they'd close the borders, I couldn't figure out WHY. Of course I don't understand much of that's being done unless in retrospect. My mind doesn't work like this.

Let's hope you're right and free travel is still possible after the next attack. I'm having nightmare visions of Handmaid's Tale, trying to cross to Canada on foot. What the hell - I'd do it.

Re: Gut politics

[catscradle.livejournal.com]

You get better gas milage with feet ;)