Terror, Voting, Freedom

Over at our neighbor blog Liberty&Power, Pat Lynch started a discussion of the electoral effects of terror. Opinion seems divided on whether it would benefit Bush or Kerry: Lynch is more of the opinion that any attack highlights the failure of the administration, whereas I think it depends greatly on the circumstances and the administration response (cf. Spain). What we don't know, of course, is whether al Qaeda is, in fact, planning to target the US during the election season, and though we know a lot about our procedural vulnerabilities, Cliopatriarch KC Johnson doesn't think we can actually do anything about them in the short term.

The National Spy Museum in DC has a quirky exhibit of previous terror-related crises and political troubles. DC is already struggling with the problem of terrorism preparedness, so I don't suspect there'll be a lot of locals dropping by to take their minds off their troubles.

Finally, since Ralph Luker is away this weekend, I get to point you to the 40th anniversary recreation of the Freedom Summer bus tours. Apparently they'll be doing more oral history (Thanks!) than voter registration, but it's a timely reminder that voting is something to be done even when it presents difficulties and dangers. Which is why we owe this woman our thanks, even if she makes us nervous.