OSAMA BIN LADEN CONFIRMED DEAD.

[Anna Mae Bollocks]

The lies are weird. They're not weird because the government lied; they're weird because they're so transparent. They're weird because they clearly appear to be lies and not misinterpretations, and also because they're the kind of lies that would inevitably be revealed very quickly, raising exactly the questions you are raising within just a few days of the operation.

From that perspective, they look like they were planted very intentionally, to be revealed right away as lies.

But, also very clumsily, and this is not a clumsy game they're playing. Notice the close proximity of the revelation of Obama's original birth certificate, and the the operation that resulted in the death of Bin Laden. That's not coincidental. It's a one-two to the gut of the political opposition. There's a good chance that the administration has a killing blow they're saving for later... in fact, I'd put money on it.

In the end, all it is is a well-played game of chess. Right now, I think they put the GOP in a strong check.

A strong check is boring.
I want him to pull out their nuts, roll 'em in the sand, and kick their ass like a natural man.

[Elder Iptuous]

they keep saying on the news that he is, strangely, not showing a significant bump as would be expected.
partisanship is sufficiently recalcitrant perhaps...

[Prince Glittersnatch III]

they keep saying on the news that he is, strangely, not showing a significant bump as would be expected.
partisanship is sufficiently recalcitrant perhaps...

I dont know what news youve been reading but Ive heard a full 10% jump.

Thats nearly 60%. If the elections were had today he would win. He just has to keep up the numbers.

[BadBeast]

they keep saying on the news that he is, strangely, not showing a significant bump as would be expected.
partisanship is sufficiently recalcitrant perhaps...

I bet he's got a big 'bump' in his Tighty whiteys though. Good cure for Presidential performance anxiety.

[Elder Iptuous]

they keep saying on the news that he is, strangely, not showing a significant bump as would be expected.
partisanship is sufficiently recalcitrant perhaps...

I dont know what news youve been reading but Ive heard a full 10% jump.

Thats nearly 60%. If the elections were had today he would win. He just has to keep up the numbers.

this is the one i've seen bandied about...
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

[Luna]

they keep saying on the news that he is, strangely, not showing a significant bump as would be expected.
partisanship is sufficiently recalcitrant perhaps...

I dont know what news youve been reading but Ive heard a full 10% jump.

Thats nearly 60%. If the elections were had today he would win. He just has to keep up the numbers.

this is the one i've seen bandied about...
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

Ramussen.  There's your problem.

http://mediamatters.org/blog/201007150003

[The Commander]

After the 2010 elections, Nate Silver at fivethirtyeight.com did a rundown of the accuracy of the various pollsters.  He found Rasmussen to be the worst of the bunch, and consistently leaning toward the Republican candidate.

I don't like it when people dismiss data they don't agree with by claiming the source of the information is illegitimate...but in this case, you can actually point to a whole slew of data that will back up the assertion that Rasmussen is a pretty shady polling firm.

[BadBeast]

Another reason Obama is smiling is that because the bloke who slotted Bin Laden was in the Services, he won't have to give him the $25 million bucks reward.

[LMNO]

My question is why lie?

I think you put your finger on it.  It was designed to demoralize AQ.  "Osama wasn't in the hills and caves, boldy suffering for the cause, he was in an expensive compound with his youngest wife.  He then cruelly used her as a human shield when he was attacked."

Rumors, even false rumors easily proved, do damage simply by existing.  Most people are not rational actors, and tend to set their priors based on the first piece of information given, not after a calm review of the facts.  So even though it was proven wrong a day or so later, that was the initial story that many people will base their opinions on. 

[Golden Applesauce]

My question is why lie?

I think you put your finger on it.  It was designed to demoralize AQ.  "Osama wasn't in the hills and caves, boldy suffering for the cause, he was in an expensive compound with his youngest wife.  He then cruelly used her as a human shield when he was attacked."

Rumors, even false rumors easily proved, do damage simply by existing.  Most people are not rational actors, and tend to set their priors based on the first piece of information given, not after a calm review of the facts.  So even though it was proven wrong a day or so later, that was the initial story that many people will base their opinions on. 

Also, if it's proven wrong a few days later, that's a day or two after the peak of the media hype.  Less people are around for the corrected version than for rumoured version.

[AFK]

After the 2010 elections, Nate Silver at fivethirtyeight.com did a rundown of the accuracy of the various pollsters.  He found Rasmussen to be the worst of the bunch, and consistently leaning toward the Republican candidate.

I don't like it when people dismiss data they don't agree with by claiming the source of the information is illegitimate...but in this case, you can actually point to a whole slew of data that will back up the assertion that Rasmussen is a pretty shady polling firm.

And a pretty good clue is that Rasmussen is routinely the pollster of choice for Fox News. 

[The Good Reverend Roger]

After the 2010 elections, Nate Silver at fivethirtyeight.com did a rundown of the accuracy of the various pollsters.  He found Rasmussen to be the worst of the bunch, and consistently leaning toward the Republican candidate.

I don't like it when people dismiss data they don't agree with by claiming the source of the information is illegitimate...but in this case, you can actually point to a whole slew of data that will back up the assertion that Rasmussen is a pretty shady polling firm.

And a pretty good clue is that Rasmussen is routinely the pollster of choice for Fox News. 

Another clue is who owns Rasmussen.

[Elder Iptuous]

interesting. it seems that it is independent headed by Mr. Rasmussen, but is essentially a Foxnews tool...
that's a very good thing to know.

[Anna Mae Bollocks]

After the 2010 elections, Nate Silver at fivethirtyeight.com did a rundown of the accuracy of the various pollsters.  He found Rasmussen to be the worst of the bunch, and consistently leaning toward the Republican candidate.

I don't like it when people dismiss data they don't agree with by claiming the source of the information is illegitimate...but in this case, you can actually point to a whole slew of data that will back up the assertion that Rasmussen is a pretty shady polling firm.

And a pretty good clue is that Rasmussen is routinely the pollster of choice for Fox News. 

Another clue is who owns Rasmussen.

Rupert Murdoch?

[Cain]

My question is why lie?

I think you put your finger on it.  It was designed to demoralize AQ.  "Osama wasn't in the hills and caves, boldy suffering for the cause, he was in an expensive compound with his youngest wife.  He then cruelly used her as a human shield when he was attacked."

Rumors, even false rumors easily proved, do damage simply by existing.  Most people are not rational actors, and tend to set their priors based on the first piece of information given, not after a calm review of the facts.  So even though it was proven wrong a day or so later, that was the initial story that many people will base their opinions on. 

Also, it fed into pre-existing narratives about terrorism very easily ie; terrorists are all cowards, and terrorist leaders manipulate their underlings into sacrificing themselves while they live a luxurious lifestyle.

That's why my bullshit meter went off, anyway.  It was too perfect as propaganda fodder.