Researchers at Cornel recently discovered that Bush’s poll numbers trend upwards every time the government issues another terrorist warning. But I’m sure it’s just a coincidence that as soon as John Kerry starts to pull ahead, federal officials announce that America’s schools need to be prepared for a possible terrorist attack.
The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security sent a bulletin to local law enforcement and homeland security officials Wednesday advising schools how to stop a terrorist takeover similar to that of a Russian school in North Ossetia last month.
A Homeland Security official said that an edited version of the bulletin has been disseminated by the Department of Education to education officials around the country.
Is there any intelligence pointing to a possible attack on an American school? Well, no. But the administration issued the warning anyway.
The protective measures recommended in the bulletin include installing security locking mechanisms for all external and internal doors and windows, retrofitting structural enhancements in safe areas that could be used for assembly and refuge during crises, and protective coatings for windows on facilities that face high traffic areas.
Sounds expensive; too bad Bush is underfunding his own federal education plan.
Funding aside, one has to wonder what the political implications are of such a warning. Bush is struggling, the bulletin comes the day before a major debate, and the election is just 25 days away. Will this warning help Bush as the previous ones have? Maybe not.
My friend Fitz emailed me yesterday with some very compelling suggestions on how the Kerry campaign can deal with this announcement.
Instead of pointing out that the Republicans want you stupid and scared, just take it at face value. Something along the lines of “When the front lines in the war on terror have reached our elementary schools, it is clear that we are not doing our best. America can do better and I can help make that happen…”
Quite right. Bush has been saying that “America is safer” with such frequency, it’s as if he has some kind of nervous tick. Likewise, he talks about fighting terrorists overseas so we’ll be safer here at home. And yet, it’s his administration that is telling parents and public officials nationwide that terrorists may target school children.
It hardly reinforces a feeling of security and confidence. A public backlash against this kind of announcement seems like a distinct possibility.