Saddam Hussein’s Death Sentence – How Will It Affect the Election?

Just two days before the 2006 US election, Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death by hanging. Saddam had been found guilty of ordering the 1982 executions of 148 males in the Iraq town of Dujail in retribution for a failed assassin attempt.

Read the full CNN story here.

The Dujail executions were not an isolated case of Saddam’s brutality. In 1996, Human Rights Watch reported on other atrocities:

"The Iraqi government continued to engage in a broad array of human rights violations, including mass arrests, torture, summary executions, 'disappearances,' and forced relocations."

Read the full report here.

The reaction from the Iraq government and the White House was swift.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki:

"The Saddam Hussein era is in the past now, as was the era of Hitler and Mussolini… (he was) the worst ruler ever in Iraq."

White House spokesman Tony Snow:

"It demonstrates that you've got an independent Iraqi judiciary and that they were applying their own laws".

But before the news sunk in, political observers were accusing the Bush administration of pushing for a verdict now – just in time to affect the election.

Snow was interviewed on Fox News this morning and dismissed the accusations as "idiotic".

Whatever the motivations, the Saddam verdict may be the "November Surprise" that tips the political balance in favor of the GOP.

Although most polls show the Democrats ahead in the race for the control of Congress, several key Senate contests will determine the outcome in that chamber. Races in Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia and Montana are considered "toss-ups". Even in the Democrat stronghold Maryland, Republican Lt. Governor Michael Steele has pulled up even with his Democrat opponent.

Few loyal Democrats may be swayed, but the all important independent voter, now leaning toward Democrat candidates, may take another look at the Republicans, now that the war in Iraq has produced some solid results.

One thing is for sure - Democrat and Republican leaders will both be nervously watching the polls the next two days.

October Surprise - Kerry Gaff

If John Kerry doesn't wake up the Republican base, nobody can.

His latest quote: "You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq."

Republicans responded sharply:

Sen. John McCain: "The suggestion that only the least educated Americans would agree to serve in the military and fight in Iraq is an insult to every soldier serving in combat today."

House Speaker Dennis Hastert: "Our soldiers risk their lives in the face of grave dangers on the battlefield, and no one who chooses to courageously and selflessly defend our country can be considered 'uneducated.'"

Kerry tried to explain that the comment was "a botched joke" and then for good measure called Republicans "assorted right-wing nut jobs."

I doubt Kerry was trying to tell a joke. I think he had a "senior moment" and thought he was back protesting the Vietnam War when there still was a draft. Republicans can only hope that Kerry keeps talking until Election Day.

Read the Fox News story about this titled "Kerry Reloads in Dogfight Over Snipe at Troops in Iraq" here.


UPDATE - The National Commander of The American Legion Paul A. Morin speaks out:

"As a constituent of Senator Kerry's I am disappointed. As leader of The American Legion, I am outraged...A generation ago, Sen. Kerry slandered his comrades in Vietnam by saying that they were rapists and murderers. It wasn't true then and his warped view of today's heroes isn't true now." Read the full story here.

Ouch!

Where Are The Democrats Hiding?

I was talking to a friend the other day and he asked me what happened to Howard Dean. I thought about it for a while, scratched my head and said, "I don't know". In the past, I could always depend on Howard as a subject for a blog post by searching for his latest quote. But then, I didn't recall any outrageous quotes lately from Ted Kennedy, Chuck Schumer or even Nancy Pelosi.

Where or why are the Democrats hiding?

There is an interesting article titled "The Non-Contract With America" in the Wall Street Journal Opinion page Saturday that may answer that question. According to the WSJ, it's the Democrat strategy to not offer any substantive new programs before the election - just the opposite of the 10 point "Contract With America" that Newt Gingrich and the Republicans offered that swept them into control of Congress in 1992. Read the full article here. The idea is to keep the focus on the Republicans, who right how are not very popular. In other words, the Democrats smell victory and are sitting back and just waiting - not wanting to make any mistakes. Sounds smart doesn't it?

I don't think so. Many see the greatest Democrat weakness as their constant complaining and negativism while never offering any suggestions to improve things. For example, Rush Limbaugh dubbed Democrat Senate leader Harry Reid “Dingy Harry”. George Bush even brought that up again recently while he was on the stump, as he accused the Democrats of complaining while having no programs.

So what are the Democrats doing? They are playing into their own weakness. As they sit on their hands, in a defensive position, Republicans can pound away at them as the party that has no plans. This raises even more doubts in the collective minds of the electorate about the ability of the Democrats to lead. People admire strong leaders. Bush advisor Karl Rove must be smacking his lips.

Smart politicians play into their opponent’s weakness. For example, if your opponent is known for raising taxes, the focus of your campaign would be showing the voters how you will cut taxes. Richard Nixon was a master at this tactic. You never need to directly attack your opponent, but the voters get the idea anyway.

With only a few days left before the election, it will be interesting to see if Republicans are able to successfully take advantage of the Democrat “do nothing” strategy and keep control of Congress.

Will Voters "Remember" 9-11 and Vote for Republicans?

Americans favor Democrats on most issues, save one, and that issue may be the determining factor in the upcoming election. In a 10-26-2006 Fox News poll, 43-35 percent of voters preferred Republicans to Democrats on the question of which party would handle terrorism better. I believe that too.

My life, and the life of most Americans, changed dramatically after 9-11-2001. I remember so well where I was when the World Trade Towers in New York came down and the Pentagon was hit.

I remember the helpless feeling I had when my wife and I sat in our car next to the interstate outside Atlanta, GA, listening to the radio, trying to decide what to do or where to go - our vacation plans in shambles.

I remember calling my son in the Chicago area on the cell phone and the relief I felt when he answered. At that time I didn't know exactly what was happening and fear gripped me as I thought about other terrorist attacks that might occur.

I also remember the President standing in the rubble at "Ground Zero" in New York City with his arm on the shoulder of an elderly fireman. As the President was speaking, someone in the crowd called out "We can't hear you". President Bush picked up a bullhorn and shouted out:

"I can hear you, the rest of the world can hear you and the people who knocked these buildings
down will hear all of us soon."

I wept, because I knew that what he said was true. For the first time since the buildings came down, I felt some peace. I thought:

"Thank God that George Bush won the election."

Then the terrorist "heard" from us and there have been no terrorist attacks on American soil since 9-11.

If Americans in the privacy of the voting booth "remember", and I think they will, Republicans will hold Congress.

Will the GOP Base Come Back?

Based on earlier polling, most political pundits predicted a Democrat sweep in the upcoming elections that would put them back in control of Congress. However, more recent polls have shown a tightening of key races as in Missouri, Tennessee, Maryland and New Jersey. But this week, an important court decision may make the election closer – and may even tip the scales in favor of the GOP.

The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that same-sex couples should have the same rights as married heterosexuals. However, the court stopped short of ordering that gay couples can marry under current statues. Under the ruling, the legislature has six months to re-write the law to either provide for civil unions for gays or allow them to marry.

Many commentators are saying that this ruling may be a gift to Republican candidates, who have watched their political base erode over the Foley scandal. It seems likely that the base, dominated by conservative Christians, will return to the GOP.

Same-sex marriage, which is generally opposed by Republicans, is a hot-button issue to the religious right that undoubtedly will trump unhappiness with a former congressman who strayed from the GOP family-friendly ranch.

If the GOP base turns out in big numbers this election as some are saying (or hoping) , Republicans have a very good chance of holding Congress.

This article is also on Bayoubuzz.com.

One Night With The King and Kingdom Advancing

My wife and I went to see One Night With The King and loved it. The story of Queen Esther illuminates the reason for the current crisis in Iran and should be seen by all.

I was searching for comments about this movie today and found a post that mentioned One Night With The King. Although the movie was only mentioned briefly, I was impressed by the author's very good summary of the moral decline in the US. Also, he made a great call for the advancement of God's Kingdom. Read the post titled "Fighting Back" here on Kingdom Advancing. 

I hope and pray that more will find Kingdom Advancing - and go see One Night With The King.