McFreedom

Of course, the post below with the message for Azzam predates OBL's climbing out from under a rock by only a few hours...

The obvious point about OBL's videotape is that, when al Qaeda wanted to influence the Spanish election, they blew stuff up, but when they wanted to influence the American election, all they can do (knock on wood) is release a video tape.

The Belmont Club goes a step further, calling it "Osama Bin Laden's Surrender Proposal:"

It is important to notice what he has stopped saying in this speech. He has stopped talking about the restoration of the Global Caliphate. There is no more mention of the return of Andalusia. There is no more anticipation that Islam will sweep the world. He is no longer boasting that Americans run at the slightest wounds; that they are more cowardly than the Russians. He is not talking about future operations to swathe the world in fire but dwelling on past glories. He is basically saying if you leave us alone we will leave you alone. Though it is couched in his customary orbicular phraseology he is basically asking for time out.

Emphasis in original. There's obviously no point in refuting bin Ladin's tripe line by line. I had a very enlightening conversation with a Democrat colleague this afternoon. We finally dug down to the point that it became clear - my number one priority is stopping terrorism in this country. If that means we have to go to war with other countries (and I believe it does), so be it. He doesn't count the war (in fact, he doesn't even see us as really being at war) in his top three priorities, doesn't think Kerry does, either, and thinks that's just fine. Let's hope, come Tuesday, the American people consider the war to be in their top three priorities, and vote accordingly...

I have a longish post on polling methodologies I'm working on and want to get out ere the election. I also need to write up my thoughts on local-to-San Carlos voting, mostly just so I can figure it out, myself. I think I've already spent three hours preparing for this election day, and that's just on the propositions. And here I was thinking I lived in a Republic...