The Time of the Season

Written by Eric Olsen
Published November 01, 2004
page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

....There is a calm confidence about him in these closing days, as if he buys into his lectures to supporters that this "most important election of our lifetime" is now in their hands. He increasingly speaks of things - a hunting trip in an Ohio cornfield where he "bagged a few geese," American democracy itself - as "blessings," and has been sharing more personal stories on the stump.

Bush:

    One of the best indications of President Bush's mood, his aides say, is the degree to which he indulges his boyish humor and enthusiastic impatience. So it was telling, they said, that as he crisscrossed the country in the last few days awaiting the nation's judgment, the candidate who ritually promises to uphold the honor and dignity of his office made a show of goofing around on Air Force One.

    On Saturday, he was spied near the staff cabin swinging his arms like a samurai warrior with a sword. If the pose left some aides a bit mystified, it also reassured them that Mr. Bush was not only confident of the outcome but was also having a great time in the presidential race's frantic, exhausting final stages.

    "He turned to me several days ago and he said, 'Do you think John Kerry's enjoying himself?' " Karen Hughes, Mr. Bush's longtime confidante and communications adviser, said. "And I was sort of taken aback and I said, 'What do you mean?' And he said, 'Well, I'm really having a good time.'

    ....Mr. Bush is an enthusiastic campaigner who clearly draws energy and strength from the roars of his crowds and the adoring looks of supporters who get to shake his hand or catch his gaze. When they are asked to explain the source of Mr. Bush's confidence, and theirs, his aides point to the deafening reception he gets at his most successful rallies.

And finally, what issue has come to define this election? Iraq. Kerry defines Bush as incapable, Bush defines Kerry as incomprehending, yet each is likely to follow a very similar course of action there:

    Despite their passionate debate on the issue, President Bush and his Democratic challenger, Sen. John F. Kerry, offer plans for Iraq that substantially overlap. Both are committed to stepping up the pace of training a new Iraqi security force, holding national elections quickly and broadening international military support for the effort.

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Career media professional Eric Olsen is honored to be the founder and publisher of Blogcritics.org, which, quite frankly, rules - as do his wife and four children.
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The Time of the Season
Published: November 01, 2004
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Section: Politics
Writer: Eric Olsen
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Comments

#1 — November 1, 2004 @ 17:42PM — paul a'barge

"As the candidates fight the good fight over the waning hours before their fellow citizens decide their fate" ...

Oh dear, someone has not been paying attention when John Kerry, in collusion with the NYT and CBS News collaborated to steal this election.

Good Fight is what you call a political race run by competitors both of whom love America more than they love treachery. GWB is one of these. Rep Gephardt and Sen Lieberman are two of these.

John Kerry is not one of these. John Kerry is a traitor and a liar and a man who will say anything and do anything to allow him to continue to wallow in the public trough.

Please. Good Fight? The Good Fight is between two honorable opponents. This fight is between good and evil, and naive emotionalism will not make it into a Good Fight.

#2 — November 1, 2004 @ 18:00PM — Mark Saleski [URL]

so what do you consider pres. bush's lies?

fib-lettes?

truth-tickles?

man, this country scares me some times.

#3 — November 1, 2004 @ 18:01PM — Eric Olsen

Paul, I would have to call that perspective hyperbolic, and I am supporting Bush

#4 — November 1, 2004 @ 18:15PM — boomcrashbaby

This fight is between good and evil

Yes, it is, and by hanging out with prostitutes and wanting to help the downtrodden, it's clear Jesus was a tolerant liberal, let's not forget lest the dark side corrupt us to their diabolical ways. (since we're bringing up good and evil folks, do we REALLY want to go there?)

#5 — November 1, 2004 @ 19:00PM — Mac Diva [URL]

Osama bin Laden did an excellent job of tweaking the nose of the Supreme Court appointed American president who has failed to capture him for three years. To characterize his masterful maneuver the way Eric Olsen has reveals an utter inability to observe bin Laden objectively. The terrorist leader is a very capable man.

I can't join Eric Olsen in celebrating his Americanism. That is because I am reminded of being considered a second-class citizen too often. This weekend, for example. I did catch-up posting of entries to Blogcritics. For all three of those days, I was followed around and hounded by a thuggish white man Olsen invited to participate in the site, Andy Marsh. In just about every entry I made or commented on, Marsh posted obscenities and slurs. He has called me a 'bitch,' 'racist,' and 'ass,' among other things. Not all that long enough, Olsen set up rules saying such behavior was grounds for banning the perpetrator. However, he rarely stands up to the Andy Marshes of the site. Though Olsen has been aware of Marsh's activities, he has done nothing to stop them. So, as the election approaches I am reminded of the hypocrisy of some Americans. Olsen slings vitriol at Osama bin Laden because of the Saudi's willingness to act on his bigotry against Americans. Meanwhile, he approves the bigotry of a white American against women and people of color. Shame on him.

#6 — November 1, 2004 @ 19:27PM — Eric Olsen

If I understand the above comment properly, it contains praise for Osama bin Laden, it equates disputes in the comment section of a website with second-class citizenship, it criticizes me for criticizing the single largest mass murderer of Americans in history.

I would describe myself as astonished

#7 — November 1, 2004 @ 19:28PM — Yo

Good shit, Eric. Most honest thing I've read, anywhere, all day. Thanks.

Too bad everyone who has left a comment before me had to go and mess the bed like they did. Can't you people ever give it a fuckin' rest?




#8 — November 1, 2004 @ 19:31PM — Eric Olsen

thanks Yo, very much appreciated!

#9 — November 1, 2004 @ 20:00PM — Mac Diva [URL]

I would describe myself as astonished.


And, I would describe that as nonsense. I informed of you what Andy Marsh was doing several times over several days, Eric Olsen, including copies of some of his comments. Now, you claim to be surprised that I was not happy to have a knuckle dragger deface any entry I wrote or comment I made for a week? Perhaps you are laboring under the stereotype that people of color and women don't mind being abused. Well, you've been corrected.

There is no difference between what motivates a bin Laden and an Andy Marsh -- hatred of people unlike themselves. Yet, you condemn one and embrace the other. Seems you're being selectively blind again. Furthermore, there is something you can do to stop of them from terrorizing people and you have chosen not to.

I said that bin Laden is an intelligent man who gets things done. The nature of those things may be horrible, but that does not mean he is stupid or inept. If he were white or Christian, you would not be having so much trouble realizing that.

#10 — November 1, 2004 @ 20:03PM — Dawn

Eric, that was really a great summation. A co-worker of mine (a Bush supporter) and I have been sharing jabs at each other over the last few weeks - but today - perhaps both of us teetering on election fatique conceded with the other that while we strongly support our respective candidates, that it is now (hopefully) in God's hands and what will be will be.

I just have to believe that we will go on, prosper, thrive and be safe no matter who wins, as it really is out of our individual hands at this point, for tomorrow we come together as a nation and make this decision.

Nice job Eric!

#11 — November 1, 2004 @ 20:11PM — Eric Olsen

thanks Dawn, your Kerry sign can remain in the yard until tomorrow

Mac, your skew would be more comprehensible if I had not edited every single one of the comments of which you complained - kind of takes the steam out of it

#12 — November 1, 2004 @ 20:35PM — Mac Diva [URL]

The rules did not say the person would be edited, they said he would be banned. Yet, despite a pattern of abuse that has been his signature behavior for his entire tenure, the perpetrator is still here. In fact, in some of those abusive posts he referred to your support of him, Eric Olsen, mocking the notion you would even consider enforcing the rules against a Right Wing white male like yourself. As it stands now, though I find Osama bin Laden's actions loathsome and believe he deserves to die, I believe you could learn a thing of two about integrity from him. The things he promises may be horrid, but he keeps his word.

#13 — November 1, 2004 @ 20:46PM — Mike Kole [URL]

Diva: "Knuckle dragger"? That's quite a slur.

I really enjoy that you can complain about being slurred with slurs of your own. I'm betting you really mean it to be taken not as comedy, too.

#14 — November 1, 2004 @ 20:47PM — Eric Olsen

there ARE NO rules about banning, we don't ban, we edit

#15 — November 1, 2004 @ 21:03PM — Mac Diva [URL]

Not true. Banning was to be the penalty for repeated use of obscenities to other members. And, one person was temporarily banned.

Andy Marsh is a crude, brutal, frightening looking individual. But, I, a petite female, am not afraid of him. Yet, Eric Olsen, a large, burly man is. I guess he is afraid that if he enforces his own rules he will get beaten up. Again, shame on him.

#16 — November 1, 2004 @ 21:34PM — Eric Olsen

I don't recall Andy threatening anyone, least of all me. I have asked all members to eschew personal insults, and will do so again (and again) - it remains to be seen who will win the "ignore Eric" contest. I would never never underestimate your abilities in this regard.

#17 — November 1, 2004 @ 23:44PM — Kirsten [URL]

Good grief. Extraordinary line of comments. Talk about tenacious. Seems like someone has your trouser leg, Eric, and won't let go. Is Andy Marsh now a minor celebrity on blogcritics...? Is it just like reality TV...the nefarious win out in the end...? Methinks no one can see straight with this election....

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