In all, none of this matters. Neither Bush nor Kerry will change US policies in the Middle East in the way that would make Bin Laden not want to attack us. The **** that has pissed he and his ilk off has been happening for a long, long time. The US has been a prime player since Truman, through Republican and Democratic presidents. To the point as to whether or not the tape will affect the election, not in the way he would want, because as far as he's concerned it's all the same ****. All the debate about who the tape will benefit is created by US citizens trying to either give their candidate a leg up or to bash their candidate's opponent.
I do however think Bin Laden is human, and like other humans is concerned with self preservation. Despite Kerry's rhetoric Bush would love to catch Bin Laden. While I think Bush is closer to his reality in assessing the threat terrorism poses to America, the way he's executed his response to that threat is questionable. Kerry won't change much, just go back to the Clinton years of sanctions against terrorist countries and the occasional trial here and there when we catch one.
Terrorism is made up of two elements: crazy motherfuckers and those who are pissed off enough at the US to follow the crazy motherfuckers. Changing US policies in the Middle East, essentially pull out and let them deal with their own problems and just give some humanitarian aid here and there, would take care of the pissed off element for the most part. The crazy motherfuckers will always be there, and always hate us and anyone else that catches their fancy. I mean we've got our own terrorists, McVeigh for example. Middle Eastern terrorists would be just as few and far between if we'd stop helping them recruit, but I've said it elsewhere in this particular forum and I'll say it again here: there is nothing special about Bush and his policies when it comes to this issue. It was the sanctions against Iraq and the US military presence on holy land that pissed of Bin Laden and his followers, those were maintained under Clinton, and Kerry will not have significantly different policies. There's little difference between Kerry's ideas and Bush's ideas on this subject. And both happen to be economic idiots as well, Bush a little less than Kerry but just by happenstance.
As Americans we've essentially been shuffling the same **** in and out of the legislative and executive branches of our government for decades. Everyone's all passionate about this particular election. In the grand scheme of things it won't make a difference which one of them is in office, it's still going to be the same ****.
So relax, pop a beer, unless you're on cycle of course, and live your life while you have the chance. That's what I'm doing. And when it's time to vote my vote won't go to either of these fucking losers. My guy probably won't win, but a vote for someone I disagree with is an automatic loss for me anyway, so I might as well go for the hail Mary pass. At least my conscience is going to be clear the day after, because I know I did everything in my power to stop the DC **** Parade.