October Surprise

[Barney Rocks]

A colleague of mine who is a prominent Republican was crowing today about the "October Surprise".

Apparently someone passed out 450 video cams to Iraqi people--the Iraqis supposedly took video footage where they talked about how wonderful the Americans were and how much they appreciated what we had done to save them from Saddam--all that kind of drivel. The tapes have been edited--and now in the last week of the election that is coming up they are going to dominate the news--giving people the impression that things are great over there and that people love us.

He was really crowing about this--and he bragged that the Democrats can't do much to fight against this--because it will look like we want to surpress the free speech of these poor Iraqi people.

HELP!!! This is actually a pretty decent October Surprise--what can we do about it?

:puke:

[Arkana]

1. Hmmm...450 Iraqis want us in the country out of how many?

Think about this--it really isn't that great a tactic.

[Beetwasher]

2. Dumbest Oct. Surprise Ever

How would that be effective? I don't get it...

[Barney Rocks]

11. It could be effective

because the war is one of the best issues--lots of people who do not follow everything that goes on ARE VERY upset with Bush over the war.

Now--they are going to paint a rosy picture of the war--American soldiers as adored heros saving the Iraqi people. If the mouth-breathers have a postive impression about what we have done over there--they may decide to KEEP Bush. That would be a disaster.

[Beetwasher]

23. No, It Would Not Be Effective

It's not even newsworthy from an entertainment value perspective. It would make people yawn and change the channel.

[Barney Rocks]

26. hopefully you are correct.

I guess that only time will tell.

I just found out that first footage is going to be shown on Fox's Big Story today at 5-6 pm EST. I am going to check it out, and I very much hope that it will prove to be poor propaganda that will have no chance of swaying people.

[Beetwasher]

32. You're Admitting You're Going to Watch Fox?

Good luck w/ that...:eyes:

I'd rather have shingles that subject myself to that garbage...They may very well be the only one's showing that tripe...

[Barney Rocks]

35. yes--I am going in--

Normally, I try to avoid all the cable stations--but I am very interested in seeing this footage--this guy was so elated about it--I have to satisfy myself that it is no big deal. Have been keeping an eye on the program for 15 minutes--and haven't seen anything yet.

[VolcanoJen]

44. It would only be effective to the Republican "choir."

Honestly, many Americans are growing weary of the Iraqi people and their struggles.

Americans care about one thing here: the troops. As long as Iraqis continue to kill US troops, Iraqis aren't going to get a lot of sympathy from Americans.

And, how exactly would this be considered newsworthy? A bunch of Iraqis record home videos and the networks go nuts showing each and every one of them? Snooze.

Barney, I think you're friend is an idiot. :-)

[emulatorloo]

3. Democrats love the Iraqi people too. . .and Bush is still incompetent

The war is still mismanaged, our allies are still alienated, and chaos still threatens the Iraqi people.

I am not sure how this bails out Bush. . . .the Iraqi people deserve better than Bush, too.

[RobertSeattle]

4. I saw a TV News story on the video cams to Iraqis

Not sure where I saw it. It could go either way.

[jimshoes]

5. I'd like to see some of the

out-takes. To be honest, I wouldn't trust these tapes any more than anything else that comes from shrubco.

[Randi_Listener]

6. Explosions in the Green Zone

And US helicopters swatted out of the sky like mosquitoes.

This will not be effective. No one will care.

[xultar]

7. Sounds STOOPID n/t

[onenote]

8. juxtaposed against reports of car bombings

it will backfire

onenote

[jayfish]

9. The Surprise Will Be...

that they haven't thrown-out their rose-colored glasses yet. People will see through this like tracing paper.

Jay

[Delarage]

10. We should show the people mourning

their lost relatives, their lost homes, their lost hopes. Do they really think this will counteract all the reality we see on the news (burning Humvees, death, and destruction?).

Amazing.

[tomfodw]

15. That could backfire too

Open the Dems up to charges of exploiting people's grief.

[yardwork]

12. How would this hurt Kerry?

[Barney Rocks]

20. It is propaganda

designed to prop up Bush---this doesn't directly "hurt" Kerry--but if people buy it--it will hurt Kerry.

Kerry is saying Bush did a terrible job (VERY true) and that things are bad over ther (once again--true true true). But if people are swayed into thinking that things are not so bad.....and some people do believe everything they see.

[mumon]

13. "We" don't do anything about it...

But don't worry, the propaganda will be countered.

[fishnfla]

14. happy iraqis equals not happy americans

in fact some might turn around and say: he done all that for them? what has he done for me lately?

[goodboy]

16. I know 1200 soldiers who probably don't think things are going good.

[politicaholic]

17. 450 video cams sold to the black market? How can I get one?

This is a bunch of crap that, if it's even remotely true, won't work. I wouldn't worry about it.

[Jasper 91]

18. Were they bribed with the camcorders ?

Did they get to keep them if they said something nice ?

[Barney Rocks]

28. no supposedly

the video cam's were turned in after they were used.

[Cocoa]

19. do you believe him?

this sounds too stupid to be true, and besides, we've already been bombarded for two years with Iraq propaganda, how would this be any different?

[Barney Rocks]

22. yes--I do believe him--

it is not hard to believe that they are coming out with some propaganda to try to shore up their image in regard to the Iraq war. This makes sense to me.

And if it is well-done--I worry that it may sway some sheeple.

It seems like a move they might make. Hopefully you are right--and this is not true. But I definitely do not see this as impossible...

[Walt Starr]

21. If that's the best they can do

Kerry will win hands down.

that's about the lamest October Surprise ever!

[Barney Rocks]

24. I hope you are

right. Propaganda can be extremely effective if it is well-done.

And one thing that I have learned over the years is that the Republicans are extremely good at putting on a show. (look at their conventions etc).

I hope that there is nothing to worry about--but I still don't like the idea that people may be bombarded with pro Iraq war propaganda the week before the election.

Thinking about that gives me a sick feeling inside. Sorry about that---I am glad others do not share these feelings--I hope they are right and I am wrong.

[leftynyc]

25. I guess the voters will have to decide

if 450 happy Iraqi's are worth 1200 dead Americans (and who knows how many maimed and wounded)

[FreakinDJ]

27. Would only make Bush look stupider

And that is no small task

But lets face reports of fighting and American deaths are streaming in every day. Now they are going to show those news clips next to all the bad news coming from Iraq?

The mixed message it would deliver to the American people would be the psychological destruction of the Bush campaign

[Zero Gravitas]

29. Dead GIs, carbombings, mortar attacks & beheadings

talk louder than campaign commercials with Iraqis in them. Geee I wonder where they found these iraqis, they wouldn't be working for the US would they?

[Laelth]

30. LOL

Happy, Smiling Iraqis? That's the Oct. surprize? LOL!

No, that's weak. As far as I've seen, Bush's "surprize" will be the conquest of Falujah, scheduled for Oct. 30/31 (or thereabouts) Day before the election he plans to declare that "the resistance has ended" (even though that will be a lie).

The American people might just buy it. Or, they might say, "Good. Now we don't need you, Cowboy. Go back to the ranch!"

-Laelth

[liberal_in_GA]

31. This war wasn't sold to the US people as a "liberate Iraq" venture

We were told we were about to get the shit blown out of us by that madman Saddam.

Has EVERYONE forgotten that? :shrug:

[Iris]

33. "Democrats don't know being a mom is a 'job'?"

Oh, sorry I thought this was the October Surprise. I figure the number of jobs created under the Bush admin. must be pretty high given his abstinence only policies and all.

[demokatgurrl]

34. I sure do hope that's it because it's a big flop. n/t

[txindy]

36. Hmmm. On the one hand, bribing Iraqis to say nice things about * in an

election year in an obvious election ploy. On the other hand, 19 army reservists mutiny and their captain has now been removed from his position. That's not even including all of the American and Iraqi deaths suffered every day.

No, this 'surprise' will backfire. It is such an obvious PR stunt that it will tick off many voters. Record numbers of people have registered and they've done so DESPITE all of the nonsense the media is spewing on TV. They aren't buying it even though the spin has been relentless from the beginning. They aren't about to buy any nonsense at this late date. They can feel the Kerry/Edwards victory now. A simple stunt isn't going to undo all the terrible things that have been done.

[Snivi Yllom]

37. whata stupid idea

What would this accomplish?

[VOX]

38. "Iraq's Funniest Home Videos"

Maybe there'll be footage of naked Iraqis getting beaten to a pulp at Abu Gharaib, or of a U.S. helicopter gunship firing into an Iraqi wedding party.

The opposing message to this propaganda is to drive home the fact that the U.S. **didn't** ramp up to get into Iraq to liberate a country -- that's a horseshit lie, and it's now the "shore story" that the administration uses -- "spreading democracy," blah blah.

WTF did Colin Powell and * present to the UN early last year? Blueprints for democracy? Bull! It was all scare, scare, scare -- WMD, mushroom clouds, nook-u-ler this-and-that, and so on.

Any presentation of a "happy Iraq" is a LIE.

[Lorien]

39. Remember; the same Iraqis said the same about Saddam

after 30 years of being under the rule of dictatorships, what else would they expect? Who would risk Abu Graiab for the truth?

[Chiyo-chichi]

40. I want to know WHO

game them the cameras. Who paid for them?

If this is "news," then so is Fahrenheit 9/11.

[snowbear]

41. :o/ --?

I can't see a video making any difference either.. :shrug:

People would look at it as the Bushies last ditch effort to put lipstick on a pig or something..

Here is where they can find the real daily scoop: http://icasualties.org/oif/

[Wind Dancer]

42. The "end timers" believe the war is going great.

It's impossible to tell them about the slaughtered innocent Iraqis, they think we have liberated the country and freedom rings. They can't wait to tackle the next country to convert them, this film won't make a difference - if it exists, it will be pure propaganda.

[girl gone mad]

43. I don't think it will work.

For one thing, it will turn off some of the fundies who are against nation building, and just want to kill all Muslims.

Most people are aware that the media can't go anywhere in Iraq now because it's too dangerous, and the fact that they had to give cameras to Iraqis instead of getting the footage on their own will just reinforce that message.

[donco6]

45. Dumb.

Not nearly sensational enough. Plus, what about the backlash?

"Hi, my name is Hamid. Here's a picture of the new school we have because of the Americans! Isn't it nice!"

Uh, dude, where's MY new school?

"And here we are all lined up for flu shots. Under Saddam, we never had flu shots, but now we have them! Isn't that nice!"

Uh, hey, aren't those OUR flu shots?

And so on.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

46. And all those Iraqi Insurgents? Did they not get the memo?

Most Americans don't give a damn whether they love us or hate us, they care about their own. If the Iraqi's "love" us but the U.S. death toll is still rising, it won't matter at all.

[rullery]

47. Well if this is the October surprise,

wait until we present the November surprise: a Kerry/Edwards landslide, and we regain control of the Senate (and maybe even the House)!

[Carni]

48. That isn't an October surprise

That's a typical day on the FOX News channel...if that's all they've got they had better get a better plan because no one but "Bush's base" will give a crap!

[many a good man]

49. They are busy creating reality ...

...while we just sit here and judiciously analyze it. Then they go off to create reality again, and we have to study it some more.

No one has ever lost an election by underestimating the intelligence of the American people. A few voters may be swayed by this video but most others will only reinforce their impression that he's just a Pollyanna out of touch with reality...

[emulatorloo]

50. This is for TRUE BELIEVERS only - They were flogging it on FAUX news

this afternoon w that blond attack nitwit John whats-his-name. FAUX viewers will eat it up I guess, but not many others.

[Bleacher Creature]

51. My guess is that if this is true

they will sound like ransom videos.