Well, what the hell happened? I went to bed in the good old UK safe in the knowledge that, thanks to collective punditry the vote was in the bag for Kerry. True, I wouldn't have believed it had you told me he'd win a couple of days ago but given that Zogby were declaring a 313 vote landslide for Kerry even I was swayed.
And then it all went to hell. The exit polls collapsed (just like last time) and Bush was swept away on a wave, trouncing Kerry in Florida. And (just like last time) Fox called the swing state (admittedly, it was Ohio this time) for Bush just a little bit too early. But thankfully most of the media and the Democrats seem to have learned a lesson from the critical drubbing they've had since 2000 for believing Murdoch's rightwing media (ahem, impartial political journalists). However, it seems that unless some miracle happens Bush has got a cakewalk on his hands.
Poor Edwards made a defiant speech saying that they'll wait til all the votes are counted in Ohio before they consider conceding, which I found amusing. Here in the cultural backwater of the UK we've been doing that for many a year - hell, even in war-torn Northern Ireland we counted the ballots (yes, all of them and not just in one region either!) before we announced the winner! [Admittedly, in Northern Ireland everybody rioted regardless but at least we observed protocol goddamn it.]
So to Bush and Co (especially his overeager chief of staff) I say a heartfelt "Back off! It ain't over til it's over." And to Kerry and Edwards "Don't back down til EVERY vote, in EVERY state is counted. And if you're officially the loser, accept it gracefully and magnanimously." That's the only way to avoid four more years of petulant sniping at Nader.
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Article comments
1 - jb
Cheney's made it clear he will never run for any other office. One of his strengths as VP -- no future political motives.
2 - Michael Walsh
Oh I hope not
3 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
- The Duke looks out the window. "shit, it IS war-torn out there!" -
heh
4 - Greg Smyth
Didn't realise that Cheney had ruled himself out. What other Republicans are likely to go for 2008 then, people?
5 - Greg Smyth
Well, you *do* live in Ballymoney! (j/k)
6 - andy marsh
Guliani, but he hasn't said yea or nay.
7 - Greg Smyth
Guliani slipped my mind. I've never understood his remarkable perception turnaround post-9/11. From what I could figure out across the pond he was perceived as an evil evil man for most of his term as Mayor. But (and to be honest I was partly joking about 2008 contenders) Schwarzenegger has the potential to reel in the traditionally centre-left as well as the Republican faithful.
8 - andy marsh
Unfortunately, by constitutional law Arnold can't run for president. He was not born here.
Guliani actually did a lot to clean up NYC. I remember going to NY as a kid and not wanting to go to times square, but it really has changed for the better and it was done under Guliani.
9 - Greg Smyth
Guliani has, admittedly cleaned up NYC, but it was with Zero Tolerance (and from what I read at the time) and paranoid fascism.
As for Arnie, I'm fully aware of his current blocking by your "constitution" but there are already serious whisperings afoot that that rule could be amended to allow long term citizens (as Arnie is) to run.
10 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
greg! Ha! A namecheck for the duke's hometown, away over here in the far reaches of blogcritics.org.
It'll probably make the paper.
11 - andy marsh
Greg - you had to see that place in the 70's and 80's...Times Square was a scary place!
12 - Anonymous
I hope for Nader/Ceriale in the White House.
13 - Eric Olsen
hope springs eternal, except for Nader that is (kidding, sort of)
14 - PGX - 13
Times Square of the 1970/80's was sort
of scary. Dirty, sleazy, vice ridden and
all that but it was a hell of a lot more
interesting and fun.
15 - Eric Olsen
all a matter of priorities: do you want Times Square to be safe for family commerce or do you not? I think such an iconic symbol of NYC is better off "safe," but I also understand the "sterilization" argument against such a change.
But does anyone really regret the clearing out of those squeegee motherfuckers, spewing saliva and implied menace in equal portions to a populace held captive by traffic lights? I would call their removal one of the greatest liberations of the 20th century.
16 - Melanie
Perchase Clinton/ Obama '08 bumper stickers! Make it a reality! Contact me to purchase!