There are a lot of people who become outraged when someone says what many people are, or should be, thinking.

A recent case is a comment by one of McCain’s people that a terrorist attack would be good for McCain. Now we are supposed to be all outraged that anyone would say that. But answer this multiple choice question:

If there were to be a terrorist attack between now and the election, would the effect be to:

  1. Improve McCain's chances of being elected;
  2. Improve Obama's chances of being elected;
  3. Make no difference to the election?

Some might think “I don’t know, could go either way.” Personally, I think it would improve McCain’s chances, because it would increase people’s anger and willingness to take warlike action, and McCain is at least somewhat perceived as The Warrior. I don’t want that outcome, and I certainly don’t want to be attacked. But if it happened, what would happen next?

I don’t think we advance ourselves by pretending that some thoughts are unthinkable. Thinking about what might happen is how we avoid falling into the pit.

It’s going to be a long time between now and November …