Friday, November 12, 2004
Defeated Kerry refuses to go quietly
Guardian Unlimited | "John Kerry was reported to be planning his political comeback yesterday, preparing to spearhead the resistance to the Bush administration in the Senate and even contemplating running for president again in 2008.
Senator Kerry's brother, Cameron, said another presidential bid was 'conceivable' while the Washington Post reported that the defeated Democratic contender had raised the possibility himself in a defiant party with staff on Saturday night.
He reminded about 400 campaign aides that Ronald Reagan had twice failed in his presidential bid before winning in 1980. 'Sometimes God tests you,' Senator Kerry is quoted a saying. 'I'm a fighter, and I've come back before.' "
Frank Rich: On 'Moral Values,' It's Blue in a Landslide
The New York Times | "FAREWELL to Swift boats and 'Shove it!,' to Osama's tape and Saddam's missing weapons, to 'security moms' and outsourced dads. They've all been sent to history's dustbin faster than Ralph Nader memorabilia was dumped on eBay. In their stead stands a single ambiguous phrase coined by an anonymous exit pollster: 'Moral values.' By near universal agreement the morning after, these two words tell the entire story of the election: it's the culture, stupid.
'It really is Michael Moore versus Mel Gibson,' said Newt Gingrich. To Jon Stewart, Nov. 2 was the red states' revenge on 'Will & Grace.' William Safire, speaking on 'Meet the Press,' called the Janet Jackson fracas 'the social-political event of the past year.' Karl Rove was of the same mind: 'I think it's people who are concerned about the coarseness of our culture, about what they see on the television sets, what they see in the movies ...'
And let's not even get started on the two most dreaded words in American comedy, regardless of your party affiliation: Whoopi Goldberg.
There's only one problem with the storyline proclaiming that the country swung to the right on cultural issues in 2004. Like so many other narratives that immediately calcify into our 24/7 media's conventional wisdom, it is fiction."
Choice of Gonzales May Blaze a Trail for the High Court
The New York Times | "Republicans close to the White House said on Thursday that the choice of Alberto R. Gonzales as attorney general was part of a political strategy to bolster Mr. Gonzales's credentials with conservatives and position him for a possible Supreme Court appointment.
These Republicans said Mr. Gonzales had been widely viewed as one of President Bush's top choices for the court. But by first sending him to the Justice Department, they said, Mr. Bush could then nominate a conservative favored by his political base to fill the first vacancy that arises."
Monday, November 08, 2004
Am I Blue?
(washingtonpost.com) | "The election campaign made it official. These are the Disunited States. There is 'Red' America: conservative, Republican, religious. And there is 'Blue' America: liberal, Democratic, secular. Everybody's message from the election results is that Red America won, and Blue America must change or die. "
Howard refuses to congratulate Bush
Guardian Unlimited | "Michael Howard deepened his feud with the White House yesterday when he pointedly refused to offer the traditional post-election congratulations to George Bush.
Angered by a White House edict banning him from meeting the president - as punishment for criticising Tony Blair over Iraq - Mr Howard said it would be wrong for him to express any view on the poll.
In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph the arch-Atlanticist was asked whether he was pleased that a fellow rightwinger had beaten a liberal. He said: 'I made it clear that I could work perfectly well with both President Bush and President Kerry ... I don't think it's appropriate to express a view on those elections.' "
Sunday, November 07, 2004
Baffled in Loss, Democrats Seek Road Forward
The New York Times | " The Democratic Party emerged from this week's election struggling over what it stood for, anxious about its political future, and bewildered about how to compete with a Republican Party that some Democrats say may be headed for a period of electoral dominance.
Democrats said President Bush's defeat of Senator John Kerry by three million votes had left the party facing its most difficult time in at least 20 years. Some Democrats said the situation was particularly worrisome because of the absence of any compelling Democratic leader prepared to steer the party back to power or carry its banner in 2008.
'We really need to work on the question of what we are for,' said Walter F. Mondale, the former vice president whose 1984 loss to Ronald Reagan was invoked by some Democrats in assessing the party's spirits now. 'Unless we have a vision and the arguments to match, I don't think we're going to truly connect with the American people.'"
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Challenges facing a second Bush term
BBC NEWS | "President Bush rode to re-election because he managed to persuade enough Americans not to change their leader in time of war.
His supporters feel that his projection of American power around the world will keep them safer. They also responded to the moral values he presented.
His opponents at home and abroad will heave a sigh of frustration heard round the world. They fear that an America rampant will rule for another four years. "
Kerry admits US election defeat
BBC NEWS | "Democratic challenger John Kerry has admitted defeat in the US election, giving President George W Bush a second term in office.
The Associated Press news agency reported that Mr Kerry had already telephoned President Bush.
He will make a formal statement at 1800 GMT, and this will be followed by a statement from the president.
The concession comes as final results are awaited in the key state of Ohio, which holds the key to victory. "
Bush on course for victory
Guardian Unlimited | "George Bush was this morning on course for another four years in the White House, with Ohio set to fall into the president's camp after a long election night marked by a record turnout.
Two of the three swing states had already been called: Florida for the incumbent, Mr Bush, and Pennsylvania for his challenger, John Kerry. Ohio's 20 electoral college votes would put Mr Bush on 274 - four more than the 270 needed for victory.
The election was as close as predicted, but, by this morning, Mr Bush was heading for another term, with the Republicans also tightening their hold on the Senate and keeping control of the House of Representatives. With the possibility of more changes in the supreme court, a second Bush term would see the Republicans controlling all four key levers of government."
Bush Takes Electoral Lead; Outcome Could Hinge on Ohio
(washingtonpost.com) | "President Bush moved to the brink of securing his bid for reelection early this morning, winning the prized battleground of Florida and holding what appeared to be an insurmountable lead over Sen. John F. Kerry in Ohio. But the Massachusetts senator considered continuing his battle to win the White House with a fight over provisional ballots in the Buckeye State.
With reports of pandemonium inside the campaign, Kerry's running mate, Sen. John Edwards (N.C.), appeared at Boston's Copley Plaza at 2:30 a.m. vowing to continue the fight. 'John Kerry and I made a promise to the American people that in this election every vote would count and every vote would be counted. Tonight we are keeping our word and we will fight for every vote. You deserve no less.' "
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
US votes in election cliffhanger
BBC NEWS | "Long queues have been reported across the United States as voters cast their ballots in one of the tightest presidential elections in memory.
Final opinion polls showed George W Bush - who cast his vote in Texas - and John Kerry in a virtual dead heat.
Analysts predict the highest turnout for 40 years and both candidates were still campaigning on election day.
With the race so close, there are fears of a repeat of 2000's disputed result and subsequent legal wrangling. "
Last-Minute Efforts: Record Turnout Forecast; Vote Drives Intensify
The New York Times | "Legions of get-out-the-vote volunteers, the bloodhounds of democracy, pursued the electorate across a dozen states yesterday as the most expensive and successful voter drive in history drew to a resounding close with experts predicting a record turnout at the polls today.
With the excitement of the campaign at a fever pitch and voters so polarized there was almost no one left to convert, nonpartisan election experts said that as many as 121 million Americans might vote, eclipsing the record of 106 million of four years ago. And with the race too close to call, the winner is likely to be the side best able to muster its core supporters, party strategists agreed."
Monday, November 01, 2004
US candidates set for final push
BBC NEWS | | "Campaigning in the US presidential election is in its final day, with most opinion polls suggesting a close race.
President Bush and Democrat challenger John Kerry will fly around the country in a last drive to rally support.
The BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says neither candidate can be confident of victory, and Monday's campaigning could be decisive.
A few votes in marginal seats could make the difference between overall victory and defeat in Tuesday's vote."
Suzanne Goldenberg on the last desperate days of US election campaign
Guardian Unlimited | "The three words that were on everyone's mind did not escape John Kerry's lips when the soaring notes of the gospel choir faded away and he rose before the congregation.
With just 48 hours to go before his fate is decided, and 40 hours after Osama bin Laden made his dramatic entrance into the American election campaign, the Democratic candidate was determined to return to the closing message of his campaign - his promise of better jobs, healthcare and education. "
Who's the best president for the US economy?
Yahoo! News | "Who would be the best president for the US economy -- George W. Bush or John Kerry (news - web sites)? Maybe neither, analysts say.
For the budget, it could make little difference, they said. "
