Is the politics of fear spreading?

[Alex]

But the current track has it (at whatever level of strength) going over DISNEY WORLD!!!!!

Quick! Panic! Cancel your vacation plans!!!

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

But the current track has it (at whatever level of strength) going over DISNEY WORLD!!!!!

Quick! Panic! Cancel your vacation plans!!!

Would it be bad to once again hope that it knocks down that stupid arm over spaceship earth?

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

Ernesto has time - and enough open sea - to return to hurricane strength before hitting the Keys and Southern Florida. Or at least that is what was reported 20 minutes ago.

In this case, I dont think it is fear but reality.

Thankfully for the people in Florida it was simply a rather weak tropical storm as it hit. The mountains in Cuba pretty much killed any chance it had of gaining stregth, as they significantly broke it up.

I think all of the panic and discussion by local and government officials is simply a CYA. With Katrina mismanagement well in memory (both on a local and national level), that's going to continue for a long time. In fact, scare tactics in general - if you want to call them that - are simply a CYA. They can all say, should things turn bad, that they warned the populace and did all they could in preparation.

This is the case with terrorism too. I don't think Bush and his admin are trying to scare the populace, I think they are pulling a CYA. Knowing that just one even insignificant attack that is successful will call into question every single policy and every moment of preparation or lack thereof and every avenue of intelligence gathering, they want to remind the population frequently that they are doing all they can in the face of a determined enemy so that they can be on record when (sadly, I wish I could say if, but I can't) it happens.

And with every disaster situation, no matter what is done, there seems to be a need for a fall guy. Sometimes bad things happen and no one is to blame. It just....is.

[innerSpaceman]

It's the season to highlight what went wrong with the President's promise to take care of Katrina damage, whatever it takes. Looking at those shortfalls at the one-year anniversary takes on a certain narrative consistency if there's a hurricane a'comin.'

The season won't last long. We're about to enter 5-year anniversary nine eleven season, and all the hand-wringing about what hasn't been done in five years to protect the American People from terrorist attack.



Fearmongering or not ... I think the convergence of the two stories paints a pretty grim picture of how our government attends to the big dangers that have beset Americans in the last half-decade.

[innerSpaceman]

them's banning words, pal.

[Gemini Cricket]

Speaking of fear spreading, CNN is going to rebroadcast it's coverage of the 9/11 bombings. Isn't that great? (He posts with sarcasm...) Oy, I'm ready to give up my cable subscription...

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Speaking of fear spreading, CNN is going to rebroadcast it's coverage of the 9/11 bombings. Isn't that great? (He posts with sarcasm...) Oy, I'm ready to give up my cable subscription...

Are they planning to replay the coverage of our Commander-in-Chief scurrying around the country like a scared bunny rabbit?

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

Are they planning to replay the coverage of our Commander-in-Chief scurrying around the country like a scared bunny rabbit?

When I make a home edit of "United 93", I'm going to plug in a split screen of Bush sitting in kindergarten with deer-in-headlights face during the part where the military finds out only the president can order the downing of civilian aircraft and immediate action is necessary to prevent Flight 93 from hitting its target in Washington, D.C.



2008 is so close, I can taste it. In retrospect, the Bush, Jr. presidency is going to prove very funny. Tragic, but funny.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

When I make a home edit of "United 93", I'm going to

Let me know when it's up on youtube.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Speaking of fear spreading, CNN is going to rebroadcast it's coverage of the 9/11 bombings. Isn't that great? (He posts with sarcasm...) Oy, I'm ready to give up my cable subscription...

They aren't rebroadcasting it on cable. It will be available as a stream from what is usually the subscription section of the Web site, which will be freely available on 9/11.