White House Scandal Pool
Whenever lefties hear news of Bush’s collapse in the polls, the first thing they say is, “Yeah, but watch out for the October Surprise.” Over at Notes, I’ve argued that an October Surprise isn’t out of the question–but it’s far more likely to ambush Bush, not Kerry. Every new week a new, potentially criminal scandal explodes in the White House. This forces other scandals to the back pages, but many of them are trundling along, building up steam, waiting to re-emerge.
And so, in an American Street exclusive, I am now setting up the White House Scandal Pool. Predict which scandal metasticizes and results in: 1) criminal charges (either against Bush or a member of his administration), 2) impeachment hearings, or 3) ethics hearings (either against Bush or a member of his administration), and you win the pool. Because many of you will select the same scandal, you must include the following information to be eligible: the scandal, the timing of the scandal, and the result of the scandal. Sort of like Clue–Rummy on criminal charges for Abu Ghraib in late September. Any cabinet-level member of the administration is eligible, and what the hell, I’ll allow close confidants (Scooter Libby, for example). Oh, and Richard Perle.
Add your submission to the comments for a chance to win today!
Looking for scandals? The Center for American Progress, Jesse Berney’s Scorecard of Evil, and the Dossiers are all handy guides.
The winner will receive a copy of any new book available at Powell’s–courtesy of your humble blogger. Have fun!
June 3rd, 2004 at 10:58 am
Does Ken Lay qualify as a member of his administration? Chalabi? The ‘good’ Bin Laden family members? Jeb? Cruella de Harris?
June 3rd, 2004 at 11:17 am
Ah, well noted. See updated rules.
June 3rd, 2004 at 11:26 am
Scooter with the Plame Affair in August.
June 3rd, 2004 at 11:44 am
Congressional investigation of Dick Cheney’s energy hearings after the Supremes shoot down his privacy arguments. No criminal charges, but an election lost.
June 3rd, 2004 at 11:49 am
it was bush that told Chalabi about iran. he hit the burbon again
this will blow up oct 12
June 3rd, 2004 at 4:41 pm
Scooter Plame July
I really want it to be Cheney, Halliburton Iraq contracts, early October, but I have to be sensible.
June 3rd, 2004 at 5:31 pm
George W. Bush indicted by the Plame grand jury in July. Oh please oh please oh please.
June 4th, 2004 at 1:59 am
Suppose we do capture Osama bin Ladin this year. How can that be a bush achievement? October surprise? October 2002? 2003? NO? 2004!? Isn’t it about time? Don’t you think our military would have done that job a lot sooner without the political deviation of everything to Iraq? Is bush going to call anything that eventually happens a great victory?
Bush’s already given ObL several years to disperse command and control. When we say we’ve stopped the money flow it really means we can’t see the money flow.
Now, I will be very gratified when ObL is captured or killed. I prefer capture, for I fear no truth or trial - if we can salvage our reputation from bush’s smearing. Try him. Execute him.
If we kill him in theatre, we better be damn sure we can prove it. IF ObL, anticipating a devastating dose of US Army interaction, arranged his death and disappearance, that would enable the legend to live forever. We wouldn’t want that! What would we do if he turned himself in to the World Court? We would wish we hadn’t denigrated and rejected it, wish we had more allies, and wish we had a better reputation.
June 4th, 2004 at 9:05 am
GW, Labatt Blue & popcorn, August.
June 17th, 2004 at 6:00 pm
Cheney, Halliburton accounting fraud, Feb 2005.
July 23rd, 2004 at 9:26 am
GW Bush and Cheney both subject of hearings on Haliburton contract awards in Iraq — say hits press in October
Faisal Hoque