Something to think about re: 2004 Presidential election

[fizzana]

In 2000, the election was more or less split between Gore and Bush (forget the 500K Gore plurality for this argument)

How many people who didn't vote for Bush in 2000 will be persuaded to vote for him in 2004?

How many people who did vote for Bush in 2004 will vote for someone else in 2004?

I can't predict the future but I'll bet anything that as of today there are a lot more people in column B than in column A.

[Virginian]

1. A lot of people who thought they were wealthy enough to be Republicans ...

aren't any more thanks to the people they voted for.
The Democratic party is for the common man (or woman).

To those returning:
Welcome back, we've missed you. Your room is just as you left it. Dinner will be served at the usual time.

That's a nasty bruise you have on your ego, can I get you something for it? A little PNAC -- I mean ice pack? or Baghdad -- I mean heating pad?

We're still the same as we always were. Some of us may tease you for straying, but we're glad you finally opened your eyes and saw these people for what they are not what they say they are.

[eleny]

3. I wonder how many ex Enron folks voted Repub?

Probably quite a few. Hard to believe they'll do that this time around. Same with the Greens. Do they really want to take that step again or throw in with us for a term. Just so we can all exhale and sort out all this s***.

[tedoll78]

2. I'm wondering..

It looks like the nation is indeed returning to its 50-50 split. Given that about 50 million will vote for Bush, and that 50 million will vote against him.. can we find a candidate that will bring a few more million into the voting process? That would almost guarantee victory.

[peabody71]

4. It's all irrelevant without fair elections.

I say support a candidate with a good chance of a win but with the gumption to stir the debate. That is why I'll stick with Dean till the end.
I told him personally the other day that he cannot win the election without real election reform with paper ballots. He basically stared at me blankly. But damn it it's the truth.

[elperromagico]

7. We need exit polls too

Along with paper ballots, we need those exit polls. That's what makes 2002 so suspect in my mind. The exit polls were stopped on Election Day. Mondale was showing dead-even with Coleman, yet he lost by a good 3 or 4 points. The Florida gubernatorial election was going to be a nail-biter, but then Jeb won by a good 15 points... and there were no exit polls to back up the "official" tallies!

If the exit polls stop in '04, we ought to scream bloody murder... and "felons" in Florida might do well to bring a cell phone with them to the polls.

[Ridley Park 704]

5. Jeb Bush's reelection told me the road will be rough

I was dead certain by January 2001 that Jeb Bush would be toast. Think of it, SO many angered Democrats in Florida, they will come out in droves and elect Jeb's opponent easily. They will be stumbling over themselves to get to the polls and defeat the president's brother.

Then Jeb wins by what, 400,000?

I will have my doubts up to Nov. 2, 2004, unless the Democrat has a huge lead in the polls. My gut tells me the Repukes are planning something sneaky so Bush will win again.

[mb7588a]

6. I can think of a few great things that need bringing up...

...that could get people into column B

1. The video of the marine raising the flag over the port of Umm Qsar shortly after the occupation began.
2. Bush's AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL environmental record, everything from drilling in national reserves in Wyoming and Alaska to White House directed lies from the EPA about NYC air quality post 9/11.
3. D.C. voting and representation rights
4. Why is gas still so damn expensive?
4.5. Why haven't the admin's buddies at Halliburton built up the oil infrastructure of Iraq such that they can pay their own way to "democracy"?
5. The U.S. foreign policy is either that of the schoolyard bully or a diaper wearing cry baby.
6. Corrupt election processes
7. Treason within the White House
8. http://www.bushwatch.com/ourfearlessleader.mp3
9. http://more.abcnews.go.com/sections/us/dailynews/jointchiefs_010501.html
......
This list could go on forever.

[radfringe]

8. a different way to look at it

how many Bush votes were actually "anti-Gore" votes - (i.e. don't like Bush but dislike Gore more)

versus

Gore votes being actually "anti-bush" votes

[Speed8098]

9. Hit the nail on the head

I know many people who were wrestling over which one was the "lesser of 2 evils"

I think after 3 years of *, we know who the evil one was.

[dbt]

10. What will happen before the 2004 election

Will not involve a terrorist "attack" or another "war." It will be something than cannot even be discussed openly without bringing the SS down on one's neck. Pity that, because bu$h's own "people" will be behind it!