a random observation about the election . . .

[OneBlueSky]

since 9/11, a lot of middle Americans who get all of their news from television's talking heads have supported Bush at least in part because they felt they had to, i.e. Americans support their president in "wartime" . . . that's just the way it is . . .

as more and more people speak out against Bush and his policies, though, it's suddenly becoming ethically, socially, and patriotically acceptable to criticize him . . . and therefore to vote against him . . . that's the turning point that's being reached, I think, and once it's passed, the Democrats should win in a landslide in November . . .

barring rigged voting machines, that is . . .

[AngryYoungMan]

1. Very good point.

The fact is that people don't really know what's "allowed" and what isn't. Not a criticism; this is a Democracy. But the Republicans have been taking advantage of this by making Fox News types lecture us about what's "appropriate" etc.

After 9/11 we all had to decide very fast what was "appropriate." And the Republicans totally took advantage of the "appropriateness vacuum" (if you will).

I'm a total Kerry supporter but I have to say that the lion's share of the credit for the shift has to go to Howard Dean. He made it okay to dis Bush. It was incredible to hear his early speeches, when he would rant about the war and say things like "I'm tired of Fundamentalist preachers!"

I'm glad Dean's not the nominee. But Kerry wouldn't be anywhere without him. He changed the landscape in a way that Gore never could in 2000 or since.

[OneBlueSky]

2. also a good point . . . n/t

.

[Jane Austin]

3. Tipping Point

I hope you're right - and I think you may be.

It's the tipping point, and I see it here in Texas in people
not being afraid to speak out against Bush, wearing
Move-on.org T-shirts, finding kindred spirits and more.

[AngryYoungMan]

4. ...right, whereas I was appalled at what happened in New York City...

...where, for a few months heading into the war, I would get dirty looks and be made to feel uncomfortable expressing my anti-war sentiments. I knew of lots of people who would whisper into the phone at work because they were afraid of losing their jobs...and I even know one person who had to frantically re-order the wines for a non-political fundraiser because she couldn't serve French wine (this was during the whole "Freedom Fries" period).

In New York City! I couldn't believe it. I was actually told in 2002 not to put a "no war" sticker in my window because I might get a rock through it.

Thank God that's all changed. What a terrible period.

[radfringe]

5. what I told a co-worker

bush stated he is a WAR pResident... not a WAR-TIME pResident

big difference - war-time president leads during a time of war to bring it to a successful conclusion, giving people hope and a vision of peaceful time to come

a WAR pResident is one who creates wars for the purpose of accumulating power/resources and to keep the people in line through the use of fear -- other than symantics, there's not a hellavalot of difference between a WAR pResident and a War Lord