Here's My ''October Surprise'' Prediction -- What's Yours?
We'll just have to rename the "October Surprise." We've had so many surprises sprung on us, starting with the August Surprise of the Sarah Palin nomination, what could astonish us any more?
Big drop in gas prices just before the election? Been there, done that. Sudden administration announcement about a new terrorist threat right before we vote? Where's the surprise in that?
Even a Palin family wedding before November 4 -- the one Palin event where the press will be welcomed with open arms -- is a no-brainer.
Where's the element of surprise in a campaign that, as Tina Fey has shown us on SNL, defies parody?
What are your predictions about the inevitable ''October Surprise''?
Here's one of mine: In the final debate, McCain will have his big penitential moment. He'll confess his sin -- his hunger to become President -- and apologize for the terrible things his ambition has made him do.
And he'll say that it no longer matters to him whether he wins or loses, just so long as he reclaims his soul, and that's what he prays that ''Warshington'' will do too, for the sake of America.
And swing voters will eat it up and vote for him, because who better to be President than a man who says he doesn't want to be President?
So. What's your ''October Surprise''?
Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
could it cost $150,000?
Posted by: michael | October 23, 2008 at 02:43 AM
How about a November surprise . .. John McCain wins the election by 6 points in the vote count and safely captures in the electoral votes.
Posted by: diana | October 18, 2008 at 02:44 PM
As Jerry W suggests, wars need to be justified, which means the enemy needs to be seen as the aggressor. Clearly, there is no country capable of credibly threatening the United States. But they can be provoked to protect their own interests in a way that makes them look like an aggressor against us.
Look for Latin America to be one of the playing fields. The Bush administration badly needs a McCain victory. The only thing it controls is the ability to stir up trouble in other countries. It may use countries it has bought off, like Columbia, to provoke Chavez of Venezuela, who has already been demonized and against whom Bush/Cheney already supported a coup.
They will then provoke Iran, further creating havoc and retaliation, which will help McCain, but be devastating to the economy and national and international security interests. Does anyone believe that McCain sees himself as anything other than a "war time president"?
Posted by: GOP Rules | October 06, 2008 at 10:29 PM
So-called journalists will begin to act as journalists and not as the cheer squad for Mr. Obama. That October surprise can never occur because it would require self-scrutiny and at least a temporary shedding of the self-righteousness that pervades the leftist media. The media's self-absorption precludes such examination.
Posted by: Jeff M. | October 06, 2008 at 11:22 AM
With John McCain we know what we are getting. Can we afford to take a chance with this most far left leaning Senator? Please take a close look at this guy he will ruin us! Empty suit? I think so...
1. Ayers
2. ACORN
3. Rev. Wright
4. Cocaine use
5. Missing Graduate Thesis
6. Birth Certificate issues
7. 1.65 million Rezco deal
8. Castro=Chavez=Ayers=Obama=Socialist Revolution..............Yeah, I guess that's a change we can believe in!
Posted by: Erik | October 05, 2008 at 11:18 PM
October Surprise -- John McCain's cozy 30-year relationship with organized crime will sink his campaign when it is revealed that numerous members of the notorious Bonanno crime family have been major contributors to his current and past political campaigns going back to his earliest days in Congress.
McCain's close personal relationship with mafia kingpin Joey "The Banana" Bonanno will be traced back to his father-in-law's early business dealings collusion with a notorious Arizona crime boss who was convicted on murder and conspiracy charges.
Newly discovered, direct links between the Bonanno criminal organization and McCain's role in peddling influence in the Keating 5 Scandal will reveal that McCain walked away with more than $1.4 million in a series of corrupt real estate deals that were hidden from the public view under his wife's name.
The revelations will be complicated further when the public learns that the Bonanno-Keating-McCain circle becomes complete with the addition of former Arizona Gov. Symington (convicted on charges of corruption and political influence peddling), convicted lobbyist and former McCain "insider" Jack Abramoff and his current campaign manager Rick Davis.
A well-known American general and diplomat will break with his party to lavish praise upon Senator Obama and endorse his candidacy, calling McCain "dangerous" and "selfishly ambitious."
All of this - the "October Surprise" - will unfold in a matter of a few short days seemingly all at once - thus sealing the deal for an Obama-Biden electoral landslide that will be perceived by Americans and hailed by the world as the beginning of a hopeful new era of American leadership and optimism.
John McCain will quietly finish out his term in the Senate and retire to his ranch at Sedona with very little fanfare.
Posted by: Google It If You Don't Believe Me | October 05, 2008 at 10:41 PM
It's going to be a Swift Boat-style attack. The Republicans have learned that this works. An allegation will come out, whether true or not, it doesn't matter. The Karl Rove style is to attack the opponent on his strengths. Kerry's strength was his service in Vietnam. What's Obama's biggest strength? I think it's his integrity and judgment.
So the attack ads will come out in full force, and may be just enough to dissuade enough independents. They only need a few percentage points. Not really an October surprise, but a big event nonetheless.
Posted by: frankoanderson | October 05, 2008 at 07:11 PM
Oct Surprise? Democrats admit they hate this county and reveal their plan to tear America down.
Posted by: targa | October 03, 2008 at 07:50 PM
i predict bush catches osama
Posted by: jay | October 02, 2008 at 04:32 PM
October Surprise - Mccain will reveal he is actually a woman, making him/her the first all female ticket in US History to run for President. He will sway enought of the female and transgedered vote to win the election, then in November rescind, explaning he said "I like women", not I am a woman."
Posted by: Adam | October 01, 2008 at 12:55 PM
October Surprise: Video of Barack Obama snorting cocaine surfaces on YouTube.
Posted by: Gongoozler | October 01, 2008 at 08:43 AM
Israel/Iran. Manufacture a threat.
Posted by: AJ | September 30, 2008 at 04:41 PM
Sarah Palin is going to get let out of the pen. As soon as the pitbull is unleashed, she is going to go all out, gaffes be damned. This is why McCain chose her. So now he will have to use her. After a stunning performance in the debate, she will have everyone except the hard left charmed out of their socks. The polls will swing and McCain will win. It'll be the first time in history that the VP candidate has such an effect on the outcome of an election.
Posted by: Patrick S. | September 30, 2008 at 01:29 PM
Obama's history and track record are over-run with unanswered question marks and, I believe the
Republican party will surface one or more of these gray areas. Possibly, the legitimacy of his altered birth certificate (was he really born in this country or Kenya?)...... his 25 year history and his loyalty to his anti-American and anti-white church ...... his current relationship to the Muslim faith .... his almost negligent experience in the political arena ..... his current and past friendships with people determined to undermine this country, etc., etc., etc.
Posted by: Hub Ford | September 30, 2008 at 08:40 AM
My October Surprise...
A Pandemic Influenza will begin of the bird flu virus H5N1 infecting 50% of the world's population and killing 60% of them... mostly between the ages of 5 and 40
http://www.wpro.who.int/NR/rdonlyres/FD4AC2FD-B7C8-4A13-A32C-6CF328A0C036/0/S4_1113.jpg
While the world watches the election and the economic crisis, the virus is spreading and infecting more and more humans in growing clusters. The information is being supressed by Indonesia and China who control the World Health Organization through Margaret Chan, WHO Director (a Chinese National).
The economic collapse will make it very hard for the public to prepare for the coming Pandemic in which disruptions to the food supply and power grid are expected to last for months.
Posted by: Goju | September 29, 2008 at 08:25 PM
October surprise: Sarah Palin performs excellent in her debate. Obama down 5 points in the polls. Surrogates cry out for Hillary switch. By October 31 polls are tied. McCain wins by a slim margin thanks to those racist democrats Hillary supporters.
Posted by: Carmelo Junior | September 29, 2008 at 05:55 PM
Hey, there is another scenario.........
what if the suprise is that
first, young people turn out in record breaking numbers to vote, and
second, that huge numbers EARLY VOTE and make an October suprise obsolete since it's too late, babe!!!!!!!
Hope the media will conver EARLY VOTING----AT LEAST 34 STATES WILL OFFER IT, AND IT COULD CHANGE THE WHOLE DYNAMIC.
SOME STATES HAVE ALREADY STARTED-------HOW ABOUT SOME MEDIA COVERAGE AND WEEKLY UPDATES ON HOW MANY HAVE VOTED?
Posted by: sal | September 29, 2008 at 04:06 PM
What would it take? As in, “In your wildest dream, what would it take to allow the Bush / Cheney cabal to cancel the elections in November because of national security or other issues, and thereby remain in the White House”? What, in that crazy dream, would constitute an issue of sufficient magnitude? War with Russia? War with Iran? War with Afghanistan? War with China? War with (fill in the blank). How about, a complete melt down of our economy? Or maybe a sudden outbreak of Anthrax or some other fatal and fast spreading disease?
If any of the above hit a note that resonates with you, even in the smallest amount, one that you could buy into as possible, then it’s time to keep your eyes open and read actual newspapers. Here’s your assignment; Google search “false flag” and read up on the battleship Maine, the Lusitania, the Reichstag fire, the Tonkin Gulf incident, the post 9-11 Anthrax “attack”, Dick Cheney’s unused plan to have armed U.S.. Navy Seals on boats that looked like Iraq PT boats in the Strait of Hormuz, etc……
Posted by: jerry w | September 29, 2008 at 04:02 PM
Hillary. NEVER count a Clinton out. NEVER.
Posted by: Greg L. | September 29, 2008 at 02:54 PM
The VP debate is canceled becasue Sarah has to rush to Washington to save our economy.
Posted by: Kathy H. | September 29, 2008 at 01:23 PM
Bush declares martial law, postpones the election and doesn't leave office.
Posted by: wstcoaster | September 29, 2008 at 01:20 PM
maybe the people should give a surprise and get rid of both party's and let real people take care of us
Posted by: mat | September 29, 2008 at 01:18 PM
Financial crisis will result in domestic chaos; martial law ensues, followed by a suspension of the election. Space aliens will appear to show us the errors of our ways. The end.
Posted by: JC | September 29, 2008 at 01:16 PM
it will take another attack for people to wake up.. so sad
Posted by: peter | September 29, 2008 at 01:15 PM
Here's a scary thought- maybe the October Surprise is that there isn't one. We are bad enough off as it is......
Posted by: SL in CO | September 29, 2008 at 01:14 PM