I’ve often thought the Terror Alert Color-Coded Warning System (TM) was the most ridiculous thing the Bush Administration had ever come up with.
Oooh! Today, we’re under Yellow Alert! Condition Yellow! Be on heightened awareness! But what’s the threat, exactly? How should my routine change? I’ve traveled under both yellow and red alert conditions, and don’t see any different in how I’m treated at the airport.
In reality, though, the Terror Alert Color-Coded Warning System (TM) does have a purpose: when poll numbers go down, the Terror Alert (TM) goes up.
One day after President Bush’s speech has zero impact on his lowest approval ratings ever, the White House presents us with an undefined threat from an undefined enemy that’s going to last between now and Labor Day. (Why, that’s almost right up until the election, isn’t it?)
I’m sure the administration misses those heady post-9/11 days when anything they did or said (including whittling away at the Constitution) met with wide-eyed approval. They learned their lesson well: frightened people are easier to manipulate.
With poll numbers down and the Iraq debacle on the news every day …
… there’s no better time for a good, old-fashioned threat.
I would have to agree.
Polls down -> Dust off the ‘Colour Coded Chart’ -> A severe dose of ‘fear rallying’ should do it.
That’s one way to achive unity I guess, an ugly way, mind you.