Bush and Cheney playing on fear

I believe, as William Raspberry’s column of Aug. 9 infers, that the newest Bush-Cheney campaign strategy emphasizes what I call the “fear factor” (“Doubts on recent terror warnings understandable”).

Bush and Cheney suggest that, because terrorists continue to threaten attacks on Americans, we, the voters, would be smart to re-elect them because they are experienced at handling terrorists. But because we have been subjected to a multitude of Homeland Security alert status changes, many timed to: 1. draw our attention away from negative news of this administration or 2. overshadow attention focused on the positive efforts of the Kerry-Edwards campaign or 3. simply to remind us that we should be “afraid, very afraid,” many of us have become suspicious of their reliability. Old information, unconfirmed threats and half-truths have been the basis for raising the status to orange at the whim of the “war” president and his staff.

Unfortunately, with all that has been uncovered regarding the manipulation of information on weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, torturing prisoners, and other Bush embarrassments, I can no longer believe the war on terror is being admirably fought or that it is not being used as a convenient way to control a terrified nation for political purposes. The president’s campaign strategy is to stress his competence in fighting terrorism as no one else can when in reality he is fighting terrorism as no one else should. I will not feel confident of our government’s efforts to make America a safer place, or our homes less likely to be objects of attack, until George Bush is out of the White House and John Kerry and John Edwards are elected.

Christine Salditt

Mukilteo

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

toon
Editorial cartoons for Wednesday, Feb. 19

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

FILE - In this Friday, Oct. 4, 2019, file photo, a man using an electronic cigarette exhales in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. On Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019, the American Medical Association said it is calling for an immediate ban on all electronic cigarette and vaping devices. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)
Editorial: Shut down flavored tobacco’s gateway to youths

Legislation in Olympia would bar the use of flavors and menthol in vape products and cigarettes.

Glad to see right-of-center opinion in Herald

I’ve been a subscriber to the Daily Herald for nearly 20 years.… Continue reading

Which great years are we returning to, President Trump?

A couple of things that I would like to see answered by… Continue reading

Congressional Republicans should stand for beliefs

Dear Republicans, I understand your conundrum. I know you feel you must… Continue reading

Comment: Musk’s shoddy aim at USAID hit U.S. farmers, too

The agency paid farmers $2 billion for crops to feed a hungry world and to support a vital industry.

Gesen: A New York lesson on our choices as collective hostages

Seven U.S. attorneys general stepped down rather than go against their morals. How will we react?

toon
Editorial cartoons for Tuesday, Feb. 18

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Herald report of Everett protest inaccurate, biased

I was at the rally and protest in Everett last on Feb.… Continue reading

Media shouldn’t use ‘she’ for trans people

About 79 percent of Americans oppose those observed male at birth from… Continue reading

USAID freeze halts vital aid work

I am outraged the Trump administration is making the U.S. weaker in… Continue reading

Goldberg: Trump declares war on higher ed, not just woke parts

The move, aided by Elon Musk, to gut NIH funding, is part of a larger and debilitating attack on academia.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.