FBI recruited in effort to scare the public

Via Atrios, Will Bunch observes that the FBI has been recruited into the re-elect Bush campaign:

Yesterday, there was an unusual terrorism-related event right here in Philadelphia. That unusual event was a federal agency -- the FBI, which usually is about as transparent as a moonless night -- voluntarily giving out information to the local media. In fact, they actually invited anyone with a camera or notebook to drop by.

Their message: The big 9/11 anniversary is coming. And don't ever forget to be afraid, not for one moment:

[J.P.] Weis [the special agent in charge of the Philadelphia division] said he knows of no credible terrorist threat in the Philadelphia area. However, he said, the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks provides an opportunity for the government and media to remind people about the danger terrorists pose.

"The greatest danger to America today is complacency," Weis said. "This is a call to arms for every concerned citizen."

The word "complacency" was the Tell, the sign that the Philly news conference was not an isolated event, but part of a coordinated Bush-driven PR campaign. Because -- as this report just yesterday on CNN revealed -- "complacency" is now the Rovian buzzword to remind voters that the only proper state for entering a voting booth on Nov. 5 is one of abject terror. CNN's Ed Henry filed this report about President Bush's latest be-very-afraid speech yesterday:

On one hand, this may help shake Americans out of any complacency they may feel almost five years after 9-11 and politically, it's almost like a page ripped right out of the Karl Rove playbook that worked in 2002 and 2004, but this also, on the other hand, could play into the Democrats' hands, 'cause it's a mixed bag.

It's nice to know that our law enforcers are out there playing politics instead of doing their jobs, isn't it?