Thoughts on the run up to the next election:

° Israel inexplicably overreacts and launches a major offensive in Lebanon. Analysts struggle to figure out how this is going to work out well for Israel in the long run. While the battle rages, Bush publicly feigns a desire to stop the fighting. Privately he's on the phone to Olmert encouraging him to invade Syria as well. After the cease fire is signed, Hezbollah rushes in to front the reconstruction effort and has demonstrated to the world that Israel is vulnerable. Bush declares, in true 1984 fashion, that the whole thing is a major victory for Israel and the war on terror.

° The London terrorist plot is exposed and our terror alert goes to red for the first time. Long lines at airports and people are scared again. The Bush Administration declares this an intelligence coup and takes credit for the apprehension of these terrorists, even though the U.S. had nothing to do with the British investigation. In fact, it looks like the Brits pulled the trigger too soon - at the urging of the Bush Administration - arresting the suspects in the very early planning stages, and now the Brits are in a sticky wicket just finding something to charge them with. Bloody hell.

° A stunning court defeat for the Bush Administration is handed down, declaring that his unwarranted domestic spying program is not only illegal, but unconstitutional and must stop immediately. The very next day the killer (???) of Jon Benet Ramsey is arrested in Thailand, putting a 10 year old mystery back into the headlines. Authorities in Thailand were watching this guy for three months prior to his arrest. Turns out the guy may just be lying to get attention. But after the announcement of his arrest, his story has dominated the news. On CNN Headline News, 23 minutes per half hour news cycle were devoted to Ramsey; 30 seconds devoted to the FISA court ruling.

° Oil price are on a two month record low, and dropping despite a disrupted pipeline in Alaska, the worsening situation in Iraq, growing tensions in Iran, and a fresh new Middle East war between Israel and Lebanon. Oil prices inexplicably dropped just before the 2004 elections as well.

________________________________________________________________________

We are less than 90 days out from the November elections. The news either scares us sh*tless, trumpets our glorious successes in the "war on terror," tells us how good things are at home, or causes us to look at the shiny watch and not the tricks being performed in front of our faces. Coincidence? Just because I have grave doubts about a coordinated conspiracy from within to orchestrate 9-11, doesn't mean I don't suspect my government of high treason committed on a daily basis.