I guess I’m a cynic, because I had the feeling this was true all along, however, Julius has posted a chart that shows:
1. Whenever Bush’s approval ratings fall in the polls, there is a new terror alert.
2. A new terror alert results in a slight uptick in his approval.
3. Terror alerts frequently follow a rash of unfavorable headlines.
4. As the election approached, the number and frequency of terror alerts is increasing dramatically.
Now, as noted on the page with the chart, certainly not all terror alerts are motivated by politics. However, you have to give pause when you consider that the latest round of alerts: immediately followed the Democratic National Convention; were based, apparently, on old data, possibly as old as three years; and, even resulted in Tom Ridge giving a follow-up press conference to specifically deny the alerts were politically motivated.
Again, I would like to believe better, but my gut tells me these are the administration’s attempts to fear monger and try to dupe the American public into thinking they are somehow doing a good job of keeping America safe, while at the same time always making voters too afraid to change administrations.
“Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror …” -FDR, 1933