How will world change in 2005?

[emad]

The Times
By Gerard Baker
George W. Bush has a difficult year ahead of him



ONE of President Bush’s more memorable malapropisms of last year was his description of the Iraq war as a “catastrophic success”.
The President was attempting to explain the difficulties that arose from American forces’ unexpectedly quick military triumph across Iraq so soon after the invasion in 2003.

But, as he looks back on a year that culminated in a remarkable personal and political victory, and looks forward to a second term loaded with potential dangers, Mr Bush might come to see the phrase as an apt description of his own re-election.

The outlook for the President — from the war in Iraq and the proliferation of challenges posed by Iran and North Korea, to relations with Europe and his bold domestic agenda for radical tax and spending reform — is not encouraging. The judgment of some Democrats during last year’s campaign that this could be a good election to lose looks like an astute one.

History, too, suggests that second-term presidencies are rarely successful ones.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1421674,00.html

[Ironpost]

1. Yes,

I see the rope, I see the knot being tied...

[NMDemDist2]

2. kick n/t

[emad]

4. Re-election: impressive achievement.......

Certainly, though, even Mr Bush’s critics concede that his re-election was an impressive achievement. The circumstances in which the President sought re-election could hardly have been less favourable. ...................

In April, Mr Bush’s handling of the al-Qaeda threat before September 11 was painfully dissected by the publication of the memoirs of Richard Clarke, the White House’s former chief of counter-terrorism.
.......................

So his victory on November 2 was, indeed, remarkable. Mr Bush secured the largest number of votes ever cast for a presidential candidate. He became the first candidate to win a majority of the popular vote since his father in 1988. And he was the first Republican to be elected with a majority in both houses of Congress in more than 70 years.

Though much instant analysis attributed the election result to a surge in Republican support among Christian evangelicals, the truth was more prosaic. Mr Bush won because voters trusted him on the war on terrorism, and because Mr Kerry proved unappealing.

[ElectGore2008]

3. www.ElectGore2008.com

New web site for Al Gore

http://www.electgore2008.com

[newyawker99]

8. Hi ElectGore2008!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[NickofTime]

5. Bush Will be Repudiated When Senators Reject Ohio Electoral Votes

Look ! Bush won't be president!

[spanone]

6. Warped sense of success.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

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