Brilliant analysis by Bob Harris on "This Modern World"

[tomfodw]

http://www.thismodernworld.com/weblog/mtarchives/week_2004_08_08.html#001686

Using the threat of terrorism to scare voters: all of September will be "National Preparedness Month"
(Note: this entry posted by Bob Harris)

I haven't seen any news stories about it, but I just got tipped by a guy who works in Washington, and this GSA page confirms: September is about to become "National Preparedness Month."

Heck, this Red Cross page flatly states that Tom Ridge will make the official announcement on September 9th.

:::snip:::

Let's see... searching further... can't find anything about it on the Dept. of Homeland Security site. (No surprise; you want to maximize media impact, not piss it away with a bunch of pre-announcements. Hint to readers: letters to the editor, now, won't diminish any actual security value, but they will defuse the propaganda effect.)

However -- aha! -- the "America Prepared Campaign" has a downloadable .pdf calendar of events.

:::snip:::

On 9/11 itself, there's a "NASCAR race in Richmond" listed. This would be the "Chevy Rock 'N' Roll 400" at the Richmond International Raceway. Obviously, a NASCAR race has nothing -- nothing -- whatsoever to do homeland security. It is, however, a GOP-friendly event in Virginia, a battleground state where Bush's lead is within the margin of error.

Hmm. There are two other NASCAR races in September: one in New Hampshire, the other in Delaware. Both are solidly in the Kerry camp. And, gosh, nothing is scheduled. Apparently non-swing state voters just don't need to be quite so, ahem, "prepared."

If we don't see "preparedness" rallies at the other two races -- and they ain't scheduled, folks -- that certainly suggests Bush et al are using fear as a political tool.

This is transparently a continuation of the Bush campaign by other means, financed with everyone's tax dollars, out of funds that could be used, say, to hire more actual first-responders, Pushtun translators, or troops to replace the exhausted guardsmen.

Bush should be called out on this, and now, by journalists, by the Kerry campaign, and by everyone who prefers actual security over campaign propaganda.

:::snip:::

It's three years after 9/11, and less than three months before an election, and now we get a National Preparedness Month.

And yes, let's ask Bush and Tom Ridge the simple question: what the hell do these people think the previous 35 months were?

[Bowline]

1. Well gosh, I guess I'd better git prepared then, eh?

Should I build the bomb shelter first, or wait until after I've stockpiled food and water?

[buycitgo]

2. you ALWAYS start by getting a good, sturdy

Tin Foil hat



don't forget your best friend

[Bowline]

3. Damn! I forgot all about my tin foil hat.

Must be all of the government mind control waves coming over the internet, eh?