Sad news from the US election front

quote:

---

Originally posted by Simon Perry:
Matthew,
Some people I have met who are republicans claim that the economy was beginning to dip at the end of the Clinton era. And they don't care about healthcare 'cos, well, they just don't care period. Lower taxes (real or imagined) and bombing foreign countries are perfectly consistent with their wants and needs from a president. Lord help us.
Simon

---

Jim, I don't think you need to explain your opinion, Simon already did.

quote:

---

have prevented further terrorist attacks on American soil

---

How on earth do you know that? Just because nothing has happened doesn't prove something would have.

What I haven't seen discussed here at all is the US election system, which can be considered a joke in any truly democratic country. For the election to be fair you need 2 updates. First: 2 rounds if no candidate gets over 50% of the votes in the first. Then you could actually vote for Nader (and there would be many other choices, too) without the opposite outcome. Two best supported candidates get to round 2. Second: Direct election - every vote counts, the president is elected based on personal votes, not by which ever way the states fall, be it a close or clear call. Land of the free. Free of what?

I've spent 2 summers in the US in '86 (Nebraska) and '98 (Colorado), both times in "the country". Met a lot of nice, friendly, positive people with an interest radius of about a hundred miles. So even if I can't get myself to see why, I'm forced to understand that "just as well" will do the job, again, I fear.

- - - - -

"There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly
what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear
and be replaced by something even more bizarrely inexplicable. There is
another theory which states that this has already happened."

- Douglas Adams, 1952-2001 -

To answer the original question, I believe choosing Kerry was a fatal error by the Dems; with instant data retrieval of anyones' voting record, it's too easy for a political operative to create ads that can twist a pols' position on any given subject. It's much easier to elect a governor, because there isn't years of Senate voting to point to. Dean would've stuck to his original message anti the war, but I suppose the R's could've still painted him as too liberal. The election was over months ago, I believe, when the R's defined Kerry as "nuanced" (a dirty word to neocons) and weak on terrorism. Plus, the Dems don't get it yet that politics is war. It's a one-party, Republican country until they do.

Florida and three other States have been praised by the Iraqi team overseing the free & Fair status of it all and their decsions to allow voters to check in two weeks up front, that's Democracy in action.

Great to see the Democrats legal attempts totally ignored I mean after all how could they possibly patriotically question such wisdom ? it obviously prevents more pre-emptive attacks on US soil, innit.

G.G.Von. He'smybrother

So if Missouri has always picked the winner and Kerry seems to have conceded this close state in a close election, can Bush relax?

I think the odds are pretty well on that if Bushy starts sliding doon the polls, a certain undefined incident or precautionery measures to prevent a possible incident will be put in place, undermining many folks rights or desire to go along and be Democratic, Cynical or what, you wait and see, especially the gamblers amongst you. of which I suspect like the Chief & I there are few ?

G.G.V. Nevermindonly4yearstogo