I had an encounter with the "security issue" 2 days ago.

[fairfaxvadem]

I was on the phone with a lady in our home office in Kansas. She says, out of the blue: "So, are you all getting scared with the election coming up?" Me, thinking she is speaking about a possible, but unlikely, Bush win since I work in a political office, but not sure, says "Scared of what exactly?" She replies, "Oh, you know about possible terrorist attacks around election time."

My fellow DUers, I sat there stunned for about 1 minute trying to discern if she was serious or not. She was serious.

I tried to make myself as clear as possible and said "Well, I wasn't scared before 9/11 and I haven't been scared since. I go into DC almost everyday and ride the metro frequently. First, they can't kill us all and Second, if someone wants to drive a truck bomb into the Washington monument or basically commit mayhem on the streets of DC, I don't think there is much that can be done to stop them."

I don't think she liked my answer because all I got in response was a feeble, "Well, I guess."

Anyhow, I'm still blown away by this conversation.

Is this the "Security Mom" type people the pollsters are talking about ? If so, they are ignorant as all get out. She is a nice person but seriously ill-informed.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Yes thuis is the security mon

and she has no clue of the things that should have been done to keep her safe

I will give one very obvous example, them cute USPS big bad bozes, they should have been removed from Amercan streets, if we were serious, If you have been to London, Madrid or Tel Aviv you will notice that all mail slots can only accept Letters not packages, you know why? They don't talk about terrorism, but take proactive action with the most obvious

When I have an ecnounter wiht the security mom I expain these things and how the current adminstration is using fear on her... and how they have not taken even the most basic of actions.

I used to work in EMS and a side training, mostly by default, was antiterrorism.


Oh and you are correct, the most ocmmited of terrorists will get though regardless of what we do... but damn we are making it oh so easy and these idiots are exploiting their fears

[tedoll78]

2. What really slays me..

is that a lot of these security voters live out in the sticks.

Voter: "I just don't want those terrorists to come 'n kill my kids."

Yes, yes.. we all know that the terrorists have Bumf#ck, RedState as their primary target..

:eyes:

Meanwhile, the people whose lives are more likely on the line - those living in the big cities - are overwhelmingly voting for the Democrats. That's quite an endorsement of our ability to keep them safe, if you think about it..

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. It makes sense

and I will tell you why... these folks who live in the stiks, are VERY PROVINTIAL, and have no idea what the outside bad world really looks like.

Hence they are easy to take advantage of....

Are the repukes being cynical? You betcha...

[fairfaxvadem]

5. I was tempted to mention the Militia folks.

But I figured it wasn't worth it.

I have to say though, I was pretty bummed out when I got off the phone. She works for an organization that has openly come out for Kerry.

Guess Mr. Frank is right: "What's the matter with Kansas?"

[Mika]

3. Fear works best on the uninformed.

n/t


_________________________________

The GOP's Axis of evil

Universal health care

Universal education

Democracy

_________________________________

[goodwalt]

6. Welcome to my world

I live in deep red Oklahoma. Welcome to my world- nice, but hopelessly ill-informed

[noamnety]

7. is she voting for bush?

It's a bit hard to understand a person convinced it isn't safe to go to the polls, heading out to vote for Bush because he's done such a great job keeping us safe.

[fairfaxvadem]

8. Good Question

Surely she must know we have endorsed Kerry. But maybe she genuinely feels safe in her ignorance. By the way she asked, she wasn't concerned about an attack at HER polling place, just us suckers living on the East Coast, near big cities.

At least, that is how I understood her "aren't you all worried about terriorist attacks at election time."

I think that is why the middle of the country feels it is okay to vote for Bush. They know darn well they are the least likely targets.