Collins Report

By Kevin “Coach” Collins

On Oct 30, 2004 the presidential race between incumbent George Bush and challenger Senator John Kerry was neck and neck with Kerry in a slightly better position. That morning brought news that Osama Bib laden had released a threatening message to the American people.
He warned us we were still in jeopardy and he intended to strike again. He blamed President Bush and America for the Sept 11th attacks.
Campaigning in Ohio, President Bush responded by saying “Americans will not be intimidated … by an enemy… we are at war with…”
Campaigning in Florida John Kerry responded by saying “…[Americans will]… hunt down and destroy Osama bin Laden and the terrorists.” He made no mention of being at war. He sounded like a police chief vowing to catch a bank robber. It reminded America that the terrorist were rooting for John Kerry because they believed a President Kerry would make their job easier.
Today another October 30 has brought another ominous message from al Qaeda calling Bush a tyrant and for “…George Bush and the Republicans to be humiliated” and asking God to “ .. degrade and defy him.”
John McCain will talk about this message over this weekend. Standing firm, he will call this message a reason to vote for him because he will finish the ground wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with a victory. His message will stick.
Lets hope history repeats itself and Barack Obama responds with a Kerry-like “police chief’s announcement” about capturing Bin Laden and says nothing about winning a war. If he does it will remind America that the terrorists are rooting for Barack Obama to win because they believe a President Obama will make their job easier.
Then let’s hope Americans hear his response clearly and we see déjà vu all over again.
The 2004 al Qaeda threat moved all the undecided voters to George Bush. This can be a game changer.