Abstract

Damaged Goods

The article looks at the electioneering of United States President George W. Bush for the 2004 elections. George W. Bush is damaged goods, but he has found his campaign voice. The President runs on fear and character assassination. Anything that polarizes public opinion about unknown dangers is assumed to help Bush. Meantime, his war planners are suddenly escalating the "threat" rhetoric surrounding Iran and its nuclear bomb-making. Anything that changes the conversation from Iraq can be helpful too. For personal slander, the Bush regime is hurling mud at Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry's reputation as a decorated Vietnam War hero. Kerry should open every speech with a review of the shameful evidence of Bush's mendacious character, from the fictitious threats from Iraq to the 5 million jobs his rich-guy tax cuts were going to produce for ordinary Americans. The most recent Gallup poll reported a slight improvement in the President's numbers but also found that Kerry is now more trusted to handle the war in Iraq.