Res Ipsa Loquitur

For those of us who worried that the Bush administration would CATCH bin Laden just prior to the election, this is disheartening. Who would have thought that NOT catching him would actually help Bush MORE?

This tape means that whenever a Democrat opens his mouth to criticise Bush, the response can be "well, bin Laden agrees with you."

For example, last night Bill O'Rielly said "eminem today joined bin Laden in opposing presiden Bush."

That type of appeal is going to be devastating, not because it's logical (it isn't) but because it's great rhetoric.

It's the luckiest thing that could have happened to Bush at this point in the election, that's for sure. Almost makes you wonder -- who did bin Laden REALLY want to help? Either Bin Laden's an idiot -- which he may be -- or he's one hell of a reverse psychologist.

Actually, I thought he was long dead, but guess not.

This tape was really weird....nothing like the previous ones. I don't think he's an idiot, but I do think he doesn't understand Americans at all.

Yo, Aaron...

Bin Laden doesn't want to help either of them...

he wants to kill us all...

even non-muslim Canadiens...

Yup, that includes you.

I'll clean and load our guns, you should probably get a compass and figure out which way to face when you start praying towards Mecca.

Yeah Mike, I know bin Laden wasn't interested in helping Kerry directly -- although opportunistic Bush supporters will disagree (already have, in fact).

But he did act like he was attempting to directly influence the election (by releasing the tape 4 days prior to it). His anti-Bush rhetoric made it appear he was attempting to undermine Bush.

The question I'm raising is, did his intent match his rhetoric? It's possible he wanted to pop up to get Bush re-elected.

After all, if you'd been able to escape the strongest superpower the world has ever known for three years, wouldn't you be inclined toward maintaining the status quo within that superpower's leadership?

Bush's support has been strongest when this country was most afraid of bin Laden. Thus, bin Laden jumping up to say "Boo" at election time might be an effort to boost that support again.

I know, I'm speaking from the perspective of someone who wants to see Bush lose, so the inferences are easier for me to make. But it's a possibility.

This tape may provide the boost Bush needs to win. It'll sure be ironic if Bush wins this election because he DIDN'T catch bin Laden.

Better the devil you know than the devil you don't? Hmmm. Maybe. But I think Amir Taheri in this morning's NYPost has the best interpretation I've seen so far...OBL worded his speech in such a way that no matter who won, he could take credit for it.

What better recruitment tool than to claim he had a major influence on the US election?