THE U.S. ELECTION 2004

Columnists and opinion writers in most countries other than in the U.S. are now grinding their teeth after spending four years stabbing President George W. Bush with their pens. The first really globalised election is over, 60 million Americans watched the Presidential debates, with as many watching all over the world.

In just about every other country, except importantly Israel, Poland and Russia, people were hoping for Kerry. Why is America different? They were violated by violent attacks on 9/11. They regard themselves at a war that is being fought out globally as was the struggle against communism. The school children so cruelly slaughtered in Russia, bombs in Bali and elsewhere only confirm this view. Just like in Australia where polls showed even-pegging, Prime Minister Howard was returned with a bigger majority. In the privacy of the polling place, voters went for security, and strong uncompromising leaders. Things were looking good for Senator Kerry, huge deficits, the administration carrying the weight of the first net job loss since the Great Depression. Superman Christopher Reeve striking back from the grave for stem cell research, a conservative Chief Justice being diagnosed with cancer and the issue of appointments to the Supreme Court on the agenda. No weapons of mass destruction found in Iraq, although someone said, “I know they are there, we have the receipts.” The Democrats had convinced themselves that George W. Bush hadn’t really won the 2000 election. Everyone talked about the Florida result. But had Al Gore won his own home state of Tennessee, he would be President, not to mention Bill Clinton’s home state of Arkansas. This motivated the Democratic grass roots, but missed the point. As one Democrat adviser said on election night shaking his head, “We even had more campaign money, the economy is in a mess, our guy won the debates, he’s brighter.” Another said, in dazed bewilderment, that “voters voted against their own financial interests. Most of the tax cuts went to the richest top 2% of the nation.” This would work in New Zealand or Canada but the U.S. march to a different tune.

President Bush stayed on message. The usually pro-Democrat soccer moms became security moms. He branded Kerry as an extreme liberal, more liberal than Ted Kennedy. The word ‘liberal’ has a different meaning in the U.S. In an earlier column I wrote of how the U.S. is a deeply religious country, over 60% go to church, over 40% believe Jesus Christ will return in their lifetime. Gay marriages, of little consequence or division in Europe or New Zealand, is a litmus test in the U.S. Republicans cleverly put it on the ballot in Mid-West states, motivating their core supporters. The Democrats historically enjoy the support of the poor, the Republicans the home of the rich. However, the core Democrat states are the richest, New England, New York, California. The Republicans take out the poor states. When the historic civil rights legislation was passed, at the celebratory party Senate majority leader Lyndon Johnson, reportedly sat alone, tears in his eyes. When asked why he was depressed on this great day, he replied, “We have handed the Republicans the South for a generation!” Democrats promise action on daycare, medicare, these are issues not values. America is more divided by values than class. God, guns, and gays.

President George W. Bush has always been underestimated by the snobby, sneering media elite. He often mis-spells the spoken word. He makes jokes about his perceived weaknesses, “I’m worried when Arnold Schwarzeneger corrects my English. I’ve been accused of strutting, in Texas we call that walking!” Most, when asked who they would rather have a beer with or who would help them if their car broke down answered, George W. Bush. The President has increased his vote, now over 50%, increased his majority in the Senate and House of Representatives. This even beats Clinton’s record as a great campaigner. It’s good the lawyers will be cut out of the process. Anyhow, I’m writing a novel. Here’s the guts of the plot - a Presidential election is in legal dispute, the process leads to the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice dies, the Senate convenes to choose a new Justice. Meanwhile, terrorists bomb the buildings holding the disputed votes in Ohio and Florida. Or was it terrorists? Meanwhile a lawyer approaches Al Gore with a death-bed confession of a Cuban in Castro’s pay who was paid to destroy ballots in Miami in 2000, but he buried them!

The conspiracy market pays well but how do I get Denzel Washington to play the lead role?