Missing WMDs and the 2004 Election
Nice piece in the Boston Globe summing up the current state of the search for those “vast stockpiles” of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction: Pressure to find weapons mounts. (Update: And don’t miss the Onion’s new infographic.)
My wife and I had a long discussion last night about the 2004 election, and the chances that Bush would be able to get away with the exceedingly lame lies he used to justify the war. She was feeling depressed, and inclined toward the view that he would succeed. But I don’t know. Bush’s approval ratings shot up after the quick victory, it’s true, but not to the 90%+ levels that his dad enjoyed after Gulf War I; currently I think he’s hovering in the 60’s or 70’s. And even with his dad, those stratospheric approval ratings proved short-lived once a compelling case was made that he was ignoring people’s pain on the economy. The current Bush is obviously way vulnerable in that area, too.
Anyway, I’m beginning to think Lincoln was right: you can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but eventually a significant number of swing voters are going to call you on your bullshit. Flag-waving yellow-ribbon campaigns aside, I think most Americans have a real problem with the neocons’ plans to remake the Middle East via the US military. Bush gets to play the 9/11 fear card only so many times. Eventually, he has to be able to produce some positive results, and uniting the rest of the world (and the rest of the global economy) in opposition to US interests seems like a really poor way to achieve that.
I think dubya’s gonna be a one-termer. I hope so, at least, and I’m willing to roll up my sleeves and see what I can do to help make that prediction a reality. I think a lot of other people feel the same way, and that more will be coming around to that point of view in the months ahead.
This election is going to be interesting. For one thing, it seems like it might actually be about something. Cool.
April 17th, 2003 at 4:51 pm
I didn’t vote last time. Nor did a lot of the people I know. We all promised to vote against Bush in the coming election.
The republicans I know who voted for Bush plan on voting against him regardless of the opponent in ’04.
None of the people I know, and very few of the hundreds I chat with online, are counted into the approval polls. Only 1 in 9 (rounded up) voted, and they ALL intend to next year. I predict one of the highest voter turn-outs just to STOP this madness in 2004.
I saw an interview with Gore the other day asking if he’d run again, he said no. He seems like a pretty cool guy, it’s a shame he’s as dumb as a box of rocks. Even so, if he’d change his mind I’d give him my vote. Hell, at this point I’d vote for a special olympian over Bush.
Who WOULDN’T support the “pudding for everyone” campaign, and his/her stance of “I like hot dogs” when it came to such issues as gun control and abortion?
December 19th, 2003 at 12:07 am
I dont know if anyone reads this anymore, but as of now, bush will win easily in the 2004 election, possibly 70%-30% vote, Democrates dont have the power behind there best candidates, only person that supports howard dean is al gore, he doesnt even have the guts to run again, because he knows he will lose. gg finding sadam, bush > democrates
December 19th, 2003 at 8:49 am
I’ll grant that it is at least possible that Bush will win. But a 70%-30% vote is fantasyland. There simply aren’t that many people dumb enough to equate the capture of Saddam with a successful and justified Iraq war policy.
January 15th, 2004 at 9:07 pm
You need to face facts, people. President Bush is a lock in this election. The democrats are beating up on each other in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, while the president fuels Air Force One for the campaign season. Americans will remember Bush’s leadership during 9/11 (undeniably superb, no matter your party affiliation), and during a time of great uncertainty, probably won’t want to change leaders. If you don’t believe me, look how tough it is to defeat an incumbent. Sure, his father lost, but this election won’t have a wild card candidate like Ross Perot taking 18% of the vote, either. The odds are VERY long on Bush losing this election. Possible? Yes. Probable? No.