WHY
GEORGE W BUSH WON AND JOHN KERRY LOST
A high turnout, most people believed, would remove George Bush from the
presidency even if it did not give a Democrat majority in both houses.
But a very high turnout - that is something else!
60% of Americans, we are told, do not believe in the theory of
evolution (whether Darwinian, neo-Darwinian, Lamarckian or hybrid).
Some
because they don't understand the science, others because they don't
understand the Christian religion - for it is clear as day from his
teaching that Jesus understood the origins of man; just as it is clear
that he explained it in language and parables suitable to his time and
his audience. A discussion on DNA would have been impossible since
Jesus, like all others, was limited to the languages and vocabulary of
the time. Many of the people that George Bush succeeded in getting out
to vote this time had never voted before. Many could not read or write
according to current statistics. But he put the 'fear of God' in them.
Other good American patriots were not about to change commanders in the
middle of a war on terror - unless they understood that the commander
was doolally [no comment].
Besides, George is a nice guy, he is consistent (easy when blind to
changing realities) and he has a nice wife and family. George puts
America first, and that is what counts, isn't it?. Who needs friends?
They only like you anyway because you have money.
Enough of why George won, why did Kerry lose? Cruelly described by one
educated American as 'an empty suit', Kerry had to run on an Anti-Bush
ticket. But that put him in the camp of those championing Gay Marriage
and a range of issues which do not command majority support with the
American public.
That meant, with a mathematical simplicity that was unarguable, that if
Kerry got out the high anti-Bush vote, Bush would have to get out
the large (some silent) majority that would vote if their core beliefs
were threatened. So that was what he did. That was why he rushed round
the country like a blue-arsed fly. That was why the turnout was too high. That was why he won the
popular vote and with it (unless there is something I have overlooked)
a second term in office. So what I thought must happen, did not.
Summary: in a
country where 60% of the population do not believe any theory of the
evolution of life is possible, democracy should be put on hold until
education has been reformed.
Will George do anything better with his presidency, now he is freed
from worrying about
a winning again? Almost certainly not.
JB - NOVEMBER 3rd 11am GMT
Update Nov 4th
So at least the result is clear cut, over and done with.
On reflection I would add another reason that Kerry lost was
Michael Moore, whose demeanour and method of attacking Bush (I have not
seen his film but have seen Moore holding forth) was enough to make
quite a lot of people vote for Bush even if they were previously
undecided. Kerry's unwanted supporters sealed his fate.
Kerry's utterances since his defeat have been sincere. Bush has
revealed once more that he is just Bush, unable to think outside any
box he is inside. "I have gained a lot of political capital in this
election, and I intend to spend it, because
that's my style". It is that last bit I have put in italics that
depresses me. It puts him in a bracket of people I have had experience
of throughout my life so far. I have to say I define them as the enemy.
They represent the whole awful essence of those with minds that are
unable to do anything else except follow the awful grooves they are
destined to run in. Barring a miracle we are in for another grisly
cycle of human folly. A Saddam Hussein removal tool out of control is
not an acceptable leader of the developed world. However it is best
that Bush stays around to finish what he has made such a mess of rather
than hand to anyone else, so that's the up-side.
Let me be clear. Saddam Hussein had to be removed. It was the UN's duty
to authorize this and it failed. The Taliban had to be removed. If some
attempt
at democracy and human rights is not promoted forcefully wherever it
can be (and that means picking priorities and taking one at a time),
the refugee and asylum position in the coming decades would be
completely unmanageable. That was why in former Yugoslavia, Bosnia and
Kosovo, the nations could not be left alone to slaughter each other.
What is at issue is the unnecessary losing of the support of 9 tenths
of the world's population for these actions by the personal
characteristics and presentation of George W Bush, which has led anyone
with a working brain to conclude that the errors made over the last 2
years have not been due to bad luck, but to unbelievable ignorance,
obstinacy and stupidity.