I had one of those days where serendipitous interruptions interrupted my ‘to do’ list.
So, when I sat down at the computer to catch up on the news, I was willingly distracted by an interesting messenger chat with an overseas friend.

I didn’t notice at first that I had Drudge up in the background until the page started refreshing itself.

I scanned the ‘developing’ and saw the predictable kinds of words, possible, probable, unnamed, etc and mentioned them to the person I was chatting with. It was one of those, ‘here we go again moments’ for both of us.
Predictably, the paragraph became a headline, with the source being the Washington Times.
My first thought was, okay, is it the Washington Times that is owned by Sun Myung Moon or the Post? Odd thought, eh? A completely irrelevent one, but it was that kind of day.

I thought an irrelevent thought because of the predictable urgency of the eventual headline on a site that engages in yellow journalism.
Last week I read something on-line (forgive me - I cannot remember for the life of me whether it was a blog post or an article) darkly predicting that Bin Laden would make the headlines soon in the US as the Republican Convention got underway. The prediction went further, suggesting that Bin Laden would be in the media a lot; seen, heard, and maybe even almost or possibly captured.

It was quite cynical and I recall cringing a bit.
The probability of falling in your home or being in an accident is greater than a threat to national security in North America, but none the less, the threat to national security has to be taken into account. The fall or accident may dramatically change your life, but it probably won’t affect the price of tea in China. I’ve been told politics does affect the price of tea in China and the free world. I would hazard a guess politics effects the price of a great many things.

But, to suggest that Bin Laden’s possible comings or goings might be used as a political tool by willing or unwitting others to breed fear, push votes, or whatever, was a bit much last week. And I’m not quite sure where Bin Laden would factor in to all the going ons within the laws of probability.

Events in the world will unfold, and presidental elections or not…named sources, unnamed sources, possibles, probables, maybes and what ifs, along with accompanying fear, insecurity and security…works in political arenas, sells newspapers and pushes elections.

Look both ways before you cross the street.
Meantime, I’d best go back to my vow of silence regarding November presidental elections.:^)