Is there any Dem candidate you would not prefer to control this over Bush?

[NNN0LHI]

Keep in mind now. The contents of that Zero-Haliburton suitcase contain the future existence or lack there of the entire planet inside of it. I am not exaggerating here. I hope you understand that? All it will take is for another major terrorist attack on this country and the majority of voters will demand a president whether Dem or Repug who is ready and willing to go kick some ass somewhere. I promise that will be the case. And with Juniors current Crusade in full swing I would be willing to go out on a limb here and say that something is probably coming our way sooner or later. Maybe before the next election? So I think it may be good to have some Dem candidates who seem to be right of Bush right now in case of such an event. And if the American people demand a "bring them back, dead or alive" type guy, we had better have one ready to go. Because I do not trust Bush even for a minute to have this device pictured below in his possession. Much less then four more years. Do you see where I am coming from here?

Don

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/systems/nuclear-football.htm

The Football

It follows the President where ever he goes and is never more that a few steps from his side. It is carried by a military officer who must undergo the nation's most rigorous security background check - the "Yankee White". It contains a secure SATCOM radio and handset, the nuclear launch codes known as the "Gold Codes" and the President's Decision Book - the nuclear playbook that the President would rely on if he would ever have to decide to use nuclear weapons. Its real name is unknown but it is popularly known as "the football".

The concept of the football came about in the aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis. President Kennedy was concerned that some Soviet commander in Cuba might launch their missiles without authorization from Moscow. After the crisis, Kennedy ordered a review of the U.S. Nuclear Command and Control system. The result was the highly classified National Secuirty Action Memorandum that created the football.

The White House Communications Agency which oversees the military unit in charge of the Football, was created with personnel from sections of the Defense Communcations Agency, composed of units fo the Defense Communications Operations Unit (responsible for communications and emergency power engineering) and the Defense Communications Support Unit. To work in these units, a candidate must pas a special seucirty investigation, called "Yankee White." The criteria include U.S. citizenship, unqeustionable loyalty , and an absloute absense of any foreign influence over the individual, his family, or "persons to whom the individual is closely linked." The aide who carries the Football come from the four military branches and are ranked Lt.Colonel, naval Comander, or Marine Major. They must be knowledgeable about all aspects fo the overall SIOP, as well as the various options available to the President for implimenting the war plan.

SIOP strategic targeting involves four groups:

more

The Nuclear Football, on display at the Smithsonian Institute. The Football is a specially modified Zero-Haliburton suitcase with a leather satchel with zippers and pouches for documents and a secure radio

The Nuclear Football on display at the Smithsonian Institute. Contrary to populary myth the Football is not handcuffed to the military aide

Close-up of the Nuclear Football, on display at the Smithsonian Institute

[BeFree]

1. Graham can run with the football.

He is the only one we can place in the position you laid out, Don.

He knows more about the current world situation than anyone else running. His position is that what the current White House is doing leaves us open to future attacks.

Not only is Graham going to lead us to the Truth of 9/11, he is capable of diplomatically solving worldly problems, and we can Trust him to carry the football wisely.

[Zeke]

2. Wait A Second!!!!!!!!!

Damn United Airlines!

That's my suitcase!

Damn baggage handlers---fools!

[markus]

3. I think any candidate who would use nukes in response to a 9/11

is a threat to humanity, who would need to be stopped from attaining or holding that power. They would be as dangerous as al-Qaida or Saddam Hussien or the North Koreans. They would be morally indistinguishable from any of those.

[NNN0LHI]

5. That is all fine and well but you missed my point

I am not suggesting voting for any candidate who would suggest using nukes. My point here is do you trust Bush enough to not use them? That is the question that I am asking.

Don

[BeFree]

7. OK, Don, here's your answer

Hell no!! He threatened to use nukes in a first strike. Remember?

[HFishbine]

4. Don't agree

that this premise is a given:

"All it will take is for another major terrorist attack on this country and the majority of voters will demand a president whether Dem or Repug who is ready and willing to go kick some ass somewhere."

That seems a little too simplistic for me. A lot will depend on how such an attack is delivered and who is behind it. There are many possible scenerios that could work against Bush, here's one example:

Biological weapon is detonated in a busy port city after being smuggled in aboard a freighter. It is learned that the Saudis are behind it.

Bush would take a lot of heat for focusing on Iraq at the expense of port security and for keeping the American people unaware of the Suadi threat by detacting incriminating evidence from 9.11.

That's just one possible scenerio that doesn't bode well for Bush and would have the American people, instead of demanding that we kick some ass, demanding to have a competent and honest president who truthfully evaluates what is necessary to keep Americans safe instead of using terrorism as justification for military colonialism.

[NNN0LHI]

6. el Wrongo

When Americans are scared after being attacked they are not going to be considering the salient points as to why it happened and who was responsible. Some of us here might? But your average American is not going to wait for any details before expecting the president to kill someone. Anyone. Even Bartcop was calling for glassing the entire country of Afghanistan for days after 9/11. Welcome to the new America.

Don

[Melinda]

8. Spell check

Welcome to the new Amerika.

And I'm scared shitless about anyone having their finger on the nuclear trigger, but in dim-son's case, it's to the nth degree.

[Melinda]

9. forum's glitchy today - doublet, please disregard.