Sunday, October 15, 2006

What's in an October Surprise?

Ever heard that phrase? An October Surprise is something that happens just before the november election day and changes the political climate.

Remember a few posts back when i mentioned that the US is activating some of the units that it would trigger if we were to have a conflict with Iran? well that is still going strong:

The aircraft carrier Eisenhower, accompanied by the guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio, guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage, guided-missile destroyer USS Mason and the fast-attack submarine USS Newport News, is, as I write, making its way to the Straits of Hormuz off Iran. The ships will be in place to strike Iran by the end of the month. It may be a bluff. It may be a feint. It may be a simple show of American power. But I doubt it.
Personally, i don't think we are capable of a 3 front war right now without help...or rather with meaningful success. i'm not worried. none this less, this is some decent sabre rattling.

5 comments:

brd said...

This is a great phrase. But with this particular administration, sabre rattling is somewhat outside of what we are able to find surprising anymore. As Desi would say, "Ai-yi-yi-yi-yi."

brd said...

Dear Polly and the Mooch!,

How can this headline be true?
"Judge Vacates Conviction of Ken Lay"

Sincerely,

Loyal Reader

Polly said...

Yep. it is called abatement.

it is a legal doctrine that vacates a conviciton if the defendant happens to die before exercising their right to appeal. However, I believe this is an action for which your attorney has to ASK. it doesn't just automatically happen.

The theory is that the defendant's constitutional right to challenge the conviction will carry more weight.

Anonymous said...

So does this mean that Lay's family gets to keep ill-gotten gains and the victims get nada?

Loyal Reader Again

Polly said...

that's right!