It's national security, stupid

John Ellis (Dubya's cousin) makes the case that the war on terrorism will trump all other issues in 2004 and beyond:

Whatever one thinks of Bush's counterterrorism strategy, it does have the advantage of being grounded in reality.

The fact is that at the intersection of terror and advanced technology lies the distinct possibility of catastrophic destruction. A catastrophic event in the United States would do terrible damage not only to its victims but to the national and the global economy, shattering investor confidence, which is the lifeblood of the capitalist system. Without a vital economy there can be no expanded health care coverage, job creation, or yet more money for seniors.

So everything rides on preventing a catastrophic event from occurring in New York or Washington or Los Angeles. Counterterrorism policy isn't an issue in this campaign. It's the only issue.

Here, Ellis makes the case that national security is economic security; apparently, this is a lesson that must be reviewed.