Sunday, August 01, 2004
Oh Boy!
Only three more months to go in the Presidental race and it's already exhausting as both candidates vie for the undecided vote. Bush came out, all guns ablze, calling Kerry a fraud as he pointed to his not so spectacular record in the senate. Bush says it's all about results and while it may be true that Kerry's senate record isn't particularly distinguished, Bush's record right now is on the ropes.
The economy has slipped back a bit in the last few months after some strong growth in the first two quarters. Unemployment showed a slight uptick in the last report and the jobs that seem to be returning are not as high quality as the jobs that left. Iraq still sucks and if we're safer at home with Bush why are we on higher alert in Washington D.C. and NY with only very limited information about what may or may not happen?
Kerry did have an outstanding convention, but is going to have to give more specifics about just what he's planning with the economy and foreign affairs. It's not enough to be the anti-Bush. Also, while I'll give him great credit for not dodging his service in Vietnam... he was only there for four month so it's a brief but distinguished career. The way it's become a recent centerpiece of his campaign you'd think he was Audie Murphy. (If you don't know who he was check this out.) The battle only seems to be headed towards a really ugly campaign flooding the masses with (mis)information to change the minds of a few.
One interesting thing to look for at the Republican convention is will they try to hide their spots. The Democrats threww all their laundry on the table... just look at who spoke.... Bill, Hillary, Al Sharpton, Joe Leiberman... they well represented the party... some more liberal than others. The Republicans, meanwhile, are kicking things off with Rudy Guliani and Arnold Schwartzeneger, both support Bush, neither are particularly socially conservative. Then there's John McCain who is sure to have a spot. McCain hates Bush, but is still stumping for him. He too doesn't fit the mold. It appears if anything that the Republicans will do their best to seem much more moderate than they are.
It'd be more honest if they had the Ralph Reed types speaking, but I suspect we won't here too many speaches about taking away peoples rights and putting the ten commandments in every class room or court, nor will be hear too much about the heathens trying to teach science in the schools with their (clearly not proven) "theories" of evolution.
The economy has slipped back a bit in the last few months after some strong growth in the first two quarters. Unemployment showed a slight uptick in the last report and the jobs that seem to be returning are not as high quality as the jobs that left. Iraq still sucks and if we're safer at home with Bush why are we on higher alert in Washington D.C. and NY with only very limited information about what may or may not happen?
Kerry did have an outstanding convention, but is going to have to give more specifics about just what he's planning with the economy and foreign affairs. It's not enough to be the anti-Bush. Also, while I'll give him great credit for not dodging his service in Vietnam... he was only there for four month so it's a brief but distinguished career. The way it's become a recent centerpiece of his campaign you'd think he was Audie Murphy. (If you don't know who he was check this out.) The battle only seems to be headed towards a really ugly campaign flooding the masses with (mis)information to change the minds of a few.
One interesting thing to look for at the Republican convention is will they try to hide their spots. The Democrats threww all their laundry on the table... just look at who spoke.... Bill, Hillary, Al Sharpton, Joe Leiberman... they well represented the party... some more liberal than others. The Republicans, meanwhile, are kicking things off with Rudy Guliani and Arnold Schwartzeneger, both support Bush, neither are particularly socially conservative. Then there's John McCain who is sure to have a spot. McCain hates Bush, but is still stumping for him. He too doesn't fit the mold. It appears if anything that the Republicans will do their best to seem much more moderate than they are.
It'd be more honest if they had the Ralph Reed types speaking, but I suspect we won't here too many speaches about taking away peoples rights and putting the ten commandments in every class room or court, nor will be hear too much about the heathens trying to teach science in the schools with their (clearly not proven) "theories" of evolution.
