Here they go againafrustrated by plummeting approval ratings and the relentless scandals, the Republicans have a new ad coming out, just in time for next month’s election, that is determined to provoke fear and panic in American voters. As Herman Goering was quoted at the Nuremberg trials, “avoice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger.” The new ad essentially repeats the Republican strategy before the 2004 presidential election: vote Democrat and your family will die! The ad features Osama bin Laden and quotes his threats against America from February 1998. “These are the stakes,” the ad concludes, “Vote November 7.” This tactic of playing the fear card is all too familiar. During the 2004 election, every time John Kerry’s poll numbers elevated, the government announced a new heightened terror alert and people were once again forced to face the orange color code. We can not let it work, we can not fall for it again. This Administration would like Americans to forget that they were the ones who gave up on the search for Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan, and instead choose to invade Iraq, a country that had no connection to 9/11. They will manipulate the truth and repress the facts in order to be successful. They will try to hack voting machines, which are owned and operated by Republicans, in order to steal the election. They will do anything to stay in power. Until the law changes, the only answer is for Americans to turn out in massive numbers to vote and ask for paper ballots that can be tracked, so Republicans will not succeed in stealing this election. Don’t let the Republicans fear mongering and distortion work this time. Vote on November 7, 2006a