So, what can we expect from Four More Years?

[Sprayber]

I guess Clinton really was a Republican cause he won elections.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by dv8ed
Ok, so I'm finding this thoroughly depressing...

Maybe four more years of Bush will **** up the country badly enough that his ideas will be completely discredited by the time the next election comes around?

This is what I hoped four years ago. It turns out it doesn't work this way. The US has become more reactionary, and it will continue to do so.

[Admiral]

The reality seems to be that either the country is as conservative as the Republicans claim, or the people are stupid enough that they buy Republican spin. One thing that may be interesting in this election is that the Democrat/Republican educated/noneducated divide will generally be more pronounced, whereas the less-well-educated religious types will have voted very heavily for Bush.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Honestly, I'm half expecting an assassination attempt at some point in the near future. I'm only half expecting one because Cheney would become president if it worked, and that could be a significant deterrent. But I do think that level of hatred for Bush exists.

(No, I'm not making a suggestion or planning anything, just making a statement. Hi, Echelon!)

[Rufus T. Firefly]

The real horror here is that the Dems have no viable candidates on the horizon for 2008, so this may be much more than just 4 years, at least ideologically.

One small ray of hope is that Christine Todd Whitman has launched a fairly high-profile campaign to urge moderate Republicans to retake the party. I'll be happy if she succeeds, and even happier if she manages to provoke bloody internescine strife.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Gatekeeper
It's possible Bush will moderate in his second term, now that he doesn't have to worry about running again. Well, unless he decides to hell with tradition and pull an FDR.

Gatekeeper

Kinda illegal now.

[Admiral]

The one good thing that happened in this election for the democrats was the enourmous popularity of Barak Obama. It is concievable that in the future, he will continue to rise in the party, and may get the VP nomination.

[DAVOUT]

Letter from a European to his American friends

I don’t want to wait any more to congratulate you. Not only I understand and approve that when the whole world keeps telling you what sort of president to elect, you choose the opposite, but frankly I would have done the same. As a matter of fact, I did the same when I re-elected Charles De Gaulle in the past (Well, Charles De Gaulle was not exactly made of the same stuff as G.W.B., but he did bother some people abroad too).

But this decision of yours is also the correct one because it gives a chance to G.W. Bush to pursue the pre-emptive war he has started in Iraq, and ultimately to collect the glory he deserves. Giving such an opportunity to Kerry would have been specially unfair.

If another reason was necessary to justify the re-election of G.W.B., I would mention the budget deficit, the manageability of which, once demonstrated, would give to him a leading position on the list of applicants for the next Swedish economy prize.

I am also impressed by the observation that G.W.B. receives direct advice from God, which is a unique asset for a government. With the notable exception of Joan of Arc, we have never been able, on this side of the ocean, to durably secure His assistance, and He knows nevertheless than we could have use it more than once.

I wish you, my dear American friends, to enjoy as much as you can the next four years which will be the last presided by G.W.B.

Friendly yours,

DAVOUT

P.S. : Next time your President get in touch with God, could he be so nice as to suggest that He allocates some blessings to the EU, with one being specifically earmarked for France. Thanks.

[Drake Tungsten]

I am also impressed by the observation that G.W.B. receives direct advice from God, which is a unique asset for a government.

If it wasn't for someone who received direct advice from God, you'd be part of England right now. Don't be upset that God's rooting for someone else these days...

[dannubis]

yeah

he sure did stop those planes from flying into the WTC didn't he...

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Rufus T. Firefly
The real horror here is that the Dems have no viable candidates on the horizon for 2008, so this may be much more than just 4 years, at least ideologically.

One small ray of hope is that Christine Todd Whitman has launched a fairly high-profile campaign to urge moderate Republicans to retake the party. I'll be happy if she succeeds, and even happier if she manages to provoke bloody internescine strife.

Both parties could do with a resurgence from the center. I still find it hard to believe that the Dems managed to screw this one up. They had to work to lose it, completely ignoring some fundamentals. The minority party can't win a war of the bases, it has to appeal to the center or attack the other party's base directly. Choosing Kerry was suicide. Even Dukakis was a better choice as he was much more a centrist, even though he perhaps exceeded Bush Sr.'s lack of charisma. He would have won this election though simply because he could still have run against Bush Jr.'s failures while alienating fewer potential voters.

On the leadership horizon the Repubs are looking a lot more centrist. The arguably three biggest stars right now are Giulianni, Swarzenegger and McCain. The Dems are looking a little thinner. Obama seems to have the charisma, but he may not have enough experience by the next election. Hilary doesn't have the charisma, but seems to be successfully casting herself as increasingly centrist / moderate. Edwards has charisma but seems to lack gravitas and may be too liberal yet. Who am I forgetting?

[Sikander]

Originally posted by dannubis
yeah

he sure did stop those planes from flying into the WTC didn't he...

That was God's will. He kills in mysterious ways.

[MrWhereItsAt]

Originally posted by DAVOUT
Letter from a European to his American friends

I don’t want to wait any more to congratulate you. Not only I understand and approve that when the whole world keeps telling you what sort of president to elect, you choose the opposite, but frankly I would have done the same. As a matter of fact, I did the same when I re-elected Charles De Gaulle in the past (Well, Charles De Gaulle was not exactly made of the same stuff as G.W.B., but he did bother some people abroad too).

But this decision of yours is also the correct one because it gives a chance to G.W. Bush to pursue the pre-emptive war he has started in Iraq, and ultimately to collect the glory he deserves. Giving such an opportunity to Kerry would have been specially unfair.

If another reason was necessary to justify the re-election of G.W.B., I would mention the budget deficit, the manageability of which, once demonstrated, would give to him a leading position on the list of applicants for the next Swedish economy prize.

I am also impressed by the observation that G.W.B. receives direct advice from God, which is a unique asset for a government. With the notable exception of Joan of Arc, we have never been able, on this side of the ocean, to durably secure His assistance, and He knows nevertheless than we could have use it more than once.

I wish you, my dear American friends, to enjoy as much as you can the next four years which will be the last presided by G.W.B.

Friendly yours,

DAVOUT

P.S. : Next time your President get in touch with God, could he be so nice as to suggest that He allocates some blessings to the EU, with one being specifically earmarked for France. Thanks.

I'm not sure just how serious all of this is...

Well, all I can hope is that Bush, now that he doesn't need to worry about voter opinions, can admit what went wrong, change tactics so that what went wrong is now put RIGHT, and stop playing hardball with the rest of the world. If our opinions differ it does not make us the enemy. I'm not asking for a stellar change in policies, just a change in how he goes about them.

For f***'s sake - please.

[gunkulator]

Originally posted by Admiral
The one good thing that happened in this election for the democrats was the enourmous popularity of Barak Obama. It is concievable that in the future, he will continue to rise in the party, and may get the VP nomination.

Doubtful. Obama won in a blue state. If Kerry can't appeal to red staters, imagine how poorly Obama will go over. All the Reps have to do is find another southern, Bible thumping WASP and the sheep will glady get in line again.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by dannubis
yeah

he sure did stop those planes from flying into the WTC didn't he...

The planes were a message of His.