U.S. election 2004

Here is my take on the upcoming election;

There are a few parallels between President Bush and Richard Nixon. Like Nixon, Bush is a divisive figure. He is admired by the older, "silent majority" who believe in backing the President all the way, no matter what. Bush, like Nixon, is leading the country in a confusing, unpopular war. (Although Iraq is different from Vietnam). And, like Nixon, I feel that President Bush will be re-elected despite the strong feelings of dislike he has generated.

In 1972, George McGovern ran as the Democratic candidate on a platform largely based on opposition to the Vietnam war. President Nixon stayed in the White House until a few weeks before the election when he emerged and ran as "President Nixon", not Richard. He drew huge crowds wherever he went; adoring crowds in the midwest and large crowds of protesters on the coasts. He thrived among the protesters by making himself look like a great crusader saving America singlehandedly from Communism in S.E. Asia. He made the protesters out to be a few "kooks" and spoiled rich college kids who should have thanked him (and their parents) for giving them the freedom to protest.

With nine Democratic candidates in the field, and Howard Dean seemingly the frontrunner, I see a distressingly similar scenario. Whomever emerges from the Democratic primaries will be a bloody mess from the attacks of the others and will be met by a strong, well funded Bush team. I think Bush will wait until late in the campaign, emerge from the White House, make a few strategic campaign stops, and walk away with four more years. All he has to do is go to the WTC and the Pentagon, wave the flag, remind us all about 9/11 and say "let's roll" and count the votes.

Personally, this is not what I want. I would feel a whole lot better if someone, anyone, would challenge Bush from the Republican side. At least that would show that not everyone is happy with his leadership and give Bush a challenge before the general election. I think that someone might be mulling over the decision to challenge him, but they are waiting until January or February to announce lest Bush's team get the jump on them. Howard Dean, if he is nominated, would be this year's version of McGovern; an anti-war candidate with not much else to offer. I think he is seen as too much of a maverick and a little too liberal for most people. I am sorry that there has not been a Robert Kennedy or a Wendell Willkie emerge. Someone who really captures the American people and who can rally different people to his cause.

Barring an unforseen circumstance, I am resigned to four more years of Bush, although I will not be voting for him.

Russel Crowe for president.

Rusell Crowe should be president...

of the World Wrestling Federation.

Simularities between GW Bush & FD Roosevelt, neither of them take shit when their country is attack.

"the older, "silent majority" who believe in backing the President all the way, no matter what"

You're kidding, right? Or are you assuming senility?

I wouldn't mind voting against Bush ... If there was a decent moderate candidate. I had hoped McCain would defect to the Democratic party, ... or perhaps Daschle would have run, but instead a collection of 10 freaks took mostly a hard left off the deep end.

Daschle? Daschle? Talk about unelectable...

There are remnants of the "silent majority" in America. For every twenty-something boy or girl you see on tv protesting Bush/the war, there are ten sixty-something men or women who feel that the President is someone who is to be respected and who will turn out in droves to cheer him if he passes through their town. And it is the sixty-somethings who vote.

And...they both have polio?

Now with Hussein captured, I wouldn't be surprised that Bush would be re elected, which IMO would be a pity.

Fuck politics!

I reckon he will now too. And it will be a very sad thing.

I hope we're all still alive at the end of his second term.