Election Issues

Kevin Drum has a post at Calpundit about the timing of events to coincide with elections:-

It's true that presidents always try to time events to elections. Making sure the economy is humming along in an election year is a time honored practice, for example. But isn't George Bush carrying this a little farther than most?

We already know that he decided against a serious assault against Osama bin Laden's hideouts in both 2002 and 2003 and then suddenly decided to get serious in 2004.

I'm shocked that this isn't more of an issue. Appalled may be a better word. bin Laden is public enemy number one, a man who killed thousands of innocent Americans. What I don't understand is how Bush can get away with making his capture an election issue, a little boost before November to make people think 'Hey, that Bush guy sure can get things done'. He's had 3 years to catch bin Laden. 3 years! I don't want to make any snap judgements, but it seems like he had the opportunity during that time to make a move, and he held back.

Now I understand the benefits of good news before an election, but what would have been best for America - to catch bin Laden October 2004, or to kill the bastard October 2001? For the past 3 years Bush's main goal should have been catch him, catch him, and catch him. Anything less is a crime against America.