<p>We really are in the middle of a war and whether it is going well or badly (a la NY Times and their Euro cousins), people are not willing to change leadership midstream. That's what happened. I voted for Kerry but obviously people like me (NorthEast democrat) are in the minority. Bush won it fair and square.</p>
<p>I am a moderate and a conservative. I used to be a Republican. And Michael Moore did not have a media buy like the Swift Boat Veterans. I think you should remember that Bush did not win by any decisive margin. It is usually incumbent on those in power to listen to those NOT in power. Bush did not but instead used it to intimidate and overpower.</p>
<p>and no Xiggi, I am not clinging to a notion. Like all things in politics, there is no simple answer. I don't believe Kerry was a good campaigner either. He's far to complex for a media sound bite. It is a shame</p>
<p>It was not a minority achat.</p>
<p>Xiggi there is a difference between attacking policies and decisions versus character.</p>
<p>Yes, he did win fair and square and that's exactly what is frightening me! My S who is a PENN grad believes that the NEast, the upper MidWest and the West should secede and form their own country as the rest of the nation does not have a clue as to the social and economic issues of these areas! Looks like those old Civil War wounds have not yet healed for some. If you have young educated people thinking this way now, what will our future bring? I'm scared to think of it!</p>
<p>My Orthodox Jewish friend in Miami and her entire family voted for Bush--first time ever for a Republication presidential candidate. He appealed to Judaism's religious right as well as Christianity. I support the right of a secure Israel to exist, but as an American I won't let that one issue determine my vote. I'm more concerned about the attack on our civil liberties here in this country. </p>
<p>Has anyone read Philip Roth's new book, "The Plot Against America"? My hands were clammy while I was reading it. </p>
<p>S said that Bush was smart to propose the constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. He knew it was a long-shot on the national level, but it signaled his opposition, and turned out the conservatives who voted for the 11 state measures banning it. Most of those voters cast their ballots for Bush as well.</p>
<p>Liz, Uh? Since when is 51% of the popular vote not a majority? Scratching my head.</p>
<p>Xiggi, your posts are extremely intelligent and well articulated.</p>
<p>lizschup, Bush won the popular vote too, by 3%! And I'm a liberal, not moderate or conservative but I know when I'm beaten. I am sad about this as is my family.</p>
<p>Xiggi may be intelligent and articulate, but grossly misinformed. I hope he has a job when he graduates.....and his field of choice has not been outsourced!</p>
<p>He didn't win by a decisive majority is what I should have said. While Kerry lost, it was very close and I think everyone should keep that in mind.</p>
<p>Check out the story of Congressman Chet Edwards in Texas.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.chetedwards.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.chetedwards.com/</a></p>
<p>This tidbit of information might be trivial to most of the people who live outside Texas. It is, however, interesting because this particular candidate's district includes George Bush's ranch in Crawford. It is also interesting because the Republicans headed by Tom Delay did everything possible to undermine the chances of Edwards to earn another term. </p>
<p>Edwards fought against a formidable opponent in a district that had become -after redistricting- massively republican. Yet, Chet emerged as a winner because he was the best candidate, a fact that even republicans can appreciate. For what is worth, you may read about his platform and uncover the subtle differences between him and the Kerry clones. </p>
<p>Edited to add missing url - Ooops</p>
<p>PS. My parents, who are staunch conservatives, are proud to be very good friends of Chet Edwards.</p>
<p>Where is the story?</p>
<p>Carolyn, 51% is a majority, stop scratching. First presidential majority since 1988.</p>
<p>Kinshasa, Ed Koch was the Bush campaign's secret weapon in Florida among Jewish voters. NO one is more liberal than he. But he understands that Israel has had no better friend than W in the White House, and that W will take the War on Terrorism to the terrorists on their turf like an Ultra-Mossad/IDF, which is what has been happening, and what will accelerate now. Keep your eye on Fallujah and Ramadi. There are many other books on the subject you could read if you want to get your hands un-clammy.</p>
<p>Sgiovinc1, thank your for your remark and your concern about my employment chances. Actually, I believe that my chances to find a decent job will be enhanced in the future when the fallout of outsourcing will be adequately measured. Obviously, my position stems from being a bigger fan of Gregory Mankiw than of Paul Krugman ... a position that might fuel my gross misinformation. :) </p>
<p>Without false pretense, I would love for you to point out the source of my gross misinformation. </p>
<p>I cannot ask a poster such a Lizschup to try to understand the position of the "other side" and, later, refuse to listen to yours. </p>
<p>Shoot away, it won't offend me!</p>
<p>Xiggi, I understand your point about campaigning effectively and perhaps Bush was just a better campaigner and appealed to his base. You said people are willing to make sacrifices than abdicate their moral values. I don't understand how Kerry abdicated his moral values. How do you think he did that?</p>
<p>While Kerry lost, it was very close and I think everyone should keep that in mind.>></p>
<p>Liz, sorry, but I had a good laugh at this one. After four years of hearing that Bush "stole" the 2000 election, I will certainly keep this in mind.</p>
<p>Koch isn't the only famous Jewish liberal out there. Alan Dershowitz also wrote an article on "who's the better friend to Israel," and he wrote that Kerry is. Unfortunately he didn't get the publicity that Koch did. The Israelis I know also prefer Kerry to Bush. </p>
<p>And, I don't think Bush won this election fair and square. Mailing out absentee ballots to Florida voters this past Friday and then telling absentee voters that it's too late for them to have their ballots counted is not fair and square. Sending home voters from poor neighborhoods in New Orleans who had waited hours to vote, especially when voters in other jurisdictions could vote as long as they had been in line before the hour the poll technically closed, is not fair and square. So I hesitate to say who won the popular vote, when it hasn't been--and won't be--all counted.</p>
<p>Achat - I wanted to like Kerry, I really did. But here's what turned me off. He ran as a "Catholic" but doesn't profess Catholic beliefs. No problem - I'm Catholic and I don't believe everthing the Catholic church says either but I don't try to convince other Catholics that I'm a "good" Catholic because I know I'm really not. He ran as a "Viet Nam Hero" but I personally know Viet Nam POWs who vividly remember sitting in the Hanoi Hilton and having their captors play Kerry's testimony calling them war criminals. Certainly,everyone is entitled to their political beliefs but you don't run claiming to be a "Viet nam Hero" when you didn't act like one while you were still in uniform. Kerry bashed Bush for the deficit but every part of his so-called "plan" would have increased spending. Kerry bashed the rich getting tax cuts...but his wife only paid 12% in taxes.
Kerry was on the Senate Intelligence Committee and had access to the SAME intelligence that Bush did on Iraq - he voted for the Iraq war, he never questioned the intelligence, and in fact as late as LAST JANUARY when he was running in the primaries against Dean he said the war was the absolute right thing to do. As I said, I voted democrat in the previous three elections. I'm not a big fan of Bush, but I know where I stand with him. I don't agree with all of his policies, but at least I know where I stand.</p>
<p>Searchingavalon, That's interesting. The Israeli's I know prefer Bush. And, several of them are in the Israeli military. Obviously, it's dangerous to make any firm statements based on knowing a few people.</p>