It's crunch time in the United States with only hours to go before the polls open
and the marathon that is the American Presidential Election enters its
final phase...before the recounts and lawsuits of course. As a Canadian, I
don't have the opportunity to vote for either George Bush or John Kerry, but
like most people on the planet, I certainly have an interest in the outcome of
this election.
I was planning to write this column several weeks ago, but unfortunately I
hadn't made up my mind, which has been a new experience for me. I've been
closely following American elections since 1976 (when I was 13) and have always
picked my favorite early on (1976:Ford / 1980:Carter / 1984:Reagan / 1988:Dukakis / 1992:Clinton / 1996:Clinton / 2000:Gore)
and stuck with him.
This time has been tough for me. Even just a few weeks ago, I would have voted
for President Bush but I've come to hope that John
Kerry wins the presidency today. I'm very conflicted. I believe there are many reasons
to vote for John Kerry as well as George Bush. And there are even more reasons to
vote against both men. In the end, the weight of all of these reasons just so happens
to fall on the side of John Kerry, at least for me.
Here's how I see it.
Like most people in The United States, I believe that terrorism is perhaps the most
important issue facing the world today. When the President says that it would be
immensely dangerous if America shows any weakness in the face of those who seek to
destroy freedom, I buy it. Even Ronald Reagan pulled marines out of
Lebanon after 240 were killed in a terrorist attack. Would Kerry do something
similar? I doubt it, but I'm not sure. Would Bush? No. Bush +25 points.
Bush 25 : Kerry 0
George Bush doesn't give a damn about the international community. These past 4 years
have shown that as powerful as the United States is, she can't always go it alone.
John Kerry realizes this, George Bush does not. Kerry +10 points. Of course if Kerry
thinks he'll be able to convince any other country to send soldiers into Iraq, he's
dreaming in technicolor. Kerry -5 points.
Bush 25 : Kerry 5
George Bush can't string 2 words together. Some might say that's because he's an
idiot. I don't think he's an idiot. I prefer to call him a "big picture" kind of
guy, He's tremendously dependent upon his
advisors...but then so was Ronald Reagan. The United States is too big and complex
for the President to be worried about all the details. One of the first things
Jimmy Carter did was make sure he and his staff took a speed reading course so that
they could go through the mountains of information they thought they had to, and
look at how we remember Jimmy's presidency. Bush doesn't care how many innings there are in the game as
long as you can kick the ball across the goal line. Still, that "deer in the
headlights" look worries me. Kerry is so obviously more intelligent, which
can't be a bad thing can it? Bush -5 points, Kerry +5 points.
Bush 20 : Kerry 10
Bush picked Dick Cheney as his running mate. Bush -3 points.
Bush 17 : Kerry 10
Tax cuts passed by Bush benefited mainly the rich. Coming at a time when America is at
war seems horribly irresponsible. Bush -5 points.
Bush 12 : Kerry 10
John Kerry is more swayed by poll numbers than what he feels is right. He "discards" his
Vietnam medals when that serves his purpose. Now when running for president, he puts his war
record front and center, and then criticizes the President for not serving in the war he
himself thought at one time was unjust. What about Bill Clinton's war record? Kerry -3
Bush 12 : Kerry 7
After 9/11, George Bush never had any intention of NOT invading Iraq, and did whatever
was necessary to make that happen. Yeah, I guess if everything goes to plan, Iraq will
become stable, democracy will sweep across the Middle East, and Bush's face will be
carved on Mt. Rushmore, but his plan wasn't thought out, and was badly executed and reckless.
What else does he have planned after he gets his last election out of the way? Bush -10
points
Bush 2 : Kerry 7
Nobody wants the President to be a wimp. We all know that Bush is a tough guy and has
nothing to prove. Kerry on the other hand won't want the "wimp" label permanently
affixed to his forehead. Look out for somebody with a big stick and an inferiority
complex. I think there is a real chance that Kerry might overreact to domestic or international crises in
unpredictable ways. Kerry -10 points
Bush 2 : Kerry -3
This whole business with the way Republicans tend to intimidate and keep those most
likely to vote Democrat (i.e. African-Americans) away from the polls is sleazy and immoral. For the sake
of future elections, it is important to encourage all sides to be fair when it comes to the mechanics of
democracy. Bush -10 points.
Bush -8 : Kerry -3
Although George Bush has hardly been a strong defender of global free trade, he'll
at least probably be less protectionist than John Kerry. For me, sitting up here
in Canada, that's important...but maybe not to you. Bush +4 points.
Bush -4 : Kerry -3
So by a score of minus 3 to minus 4, I gotta go with Kerry. It's a ringing endorsement!
This time has been tough for me. Even just a few weeks ago, I would have voted
for President Bush but I've come to hope that John
Kerry wins the presidency today. I'm very conflicted. I believe there are many reasons
to vote for John Kerry as well as George Bush. And there are even more reasons to
vote against both men. In the end, the weight of all of these reasons just so happens
to fall on the side of John Kerry, at least for me.
George Bush can't string 2 words together. Some might say that's because he's an
idiot. I don't think he's an idiot. I prefer to call him a "big picture" kind of
guy, He's tremendously dependent upon his
advisors...but then so was Ronald Reagan. The United States is too big and complex
for the President to be worried about all the details. One of the first things
Jimmy Carter did was make sure he and his staff took a speed reading course so that
they could go through the mountains of information they thought they had to, and
look at how we remember Jimmy's presidency. Bush doesn't care how many innings there are in the game as
long as you can kick the ball across the goal line. Still, that "deer in the
headlights" look worries me. Kerry is so obviously more intelligent, which
can't be a bad thing can it? Bush -5 points, Kerry +5 points.
