A lot of readers have e-mailed me, and asked why I haven’t talked more about politics this election season. It’s mostly a time issue, but the real reason is, there are other sites out there that say the very same things I want to say, and they say them better than I do. As I wrote back in May: “Salon, DailyKos, Atrios, Josh Marshall, The Daily Howler, Juan Cole, and Kevin Drum are just a few of the sites I read at least once a day. I do a lot of nodding along in agreement when I read them, and they always say what I would say, with more eloquence and passion than I can currently muster.”
In that entry, I also said, “There’s enough anger and strife in the world right now. I’d rather put my time and energy into reflecting on the things that make me happy, than the things that piss me off.”
Then I got an e-mail this afternoon inquiring why I haven’t written about the most important election in our lifetime.
The most important election in our lifetime.
Boy, did that strike a nerve with me. This is the most important election in my lifetime. Forget the concept of holding the Bush administration accountable for the lies and incompetence for a moment, and just think about the very real possibility of a Supreme Court stacked with Bush appointments: goodbye freedom of choice. Goodbye freedom from religion. Goodbye equal rights for homosexuals.
Presumably, you’re reading this website because you want to know what’s in my head, and a lot of you have asked how I feel about the election . . . so here it is: I’m pretty sure that John Kerry will win this election. I am pretty confident that the majority of Americans are fed up with the lies, corporate sell-outs, and reality-defiance of the Bush administration. I am pretty sure that I’ll wake up on November 3rd and tell my wife, “Our long national nightmare is over.”
But it will still be close, and it’s possible that the GOP’s disgusting efforts to keep voters away from the polls will work, and we’ll end up with four more years of George W. Bush.
Last week, a reporter from Salon invited me to contribute to a story that asked, “What will you do if President Bush is re-elected?”
I struggled to find the best way to express how important I feel this election is, and I tried to articulate some of the main reasons I believe that Mr. Bush does not deserve a second term, but there were so many, I kept ending up with over 1000 words. One draft was close to 1700 words, and that was just trying to understand how President Bush and his supporters seem to live in some parallel reality where up is down and we have always been at war with Eurasia. (Or is it East Asia? Doesn’t matter. War is Peace.)
What I came up with, in the editing and soul-searching, and the worrying, is this: I believe that we much reject George W. Bush and the direction he’s taken our country. Even if we (hopefully) end up with a new president tomorrow, it will take decades to repair the damage George Bush has done in just four years: damage to our civil rights, damage to our economy, damage to our national standing with the rest of the world (doesn’t it bother anyone that the vast majority of the world viscerally hates America because of George W. Bush? I’m not talking about “The Terrorists.” I’m talking about our traditional allies in France, Spain, Germany, Britan, and pretty much all of Europe. On September 12, 2001, the entire world stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us . . . but look at how our country is viewed now.) If he gets another four years to wreak havoc on America and the world, we may never recover from it.
Here’s what I ended up sending them:
I’m Wil Wheaton, and I approved this message:
There are so many reasons that George W. Bush doesn’t deserve four more years, it is staggering to me that the question “What will you do if George W. Bush is re-elected?” can even be asked. This shouldn’t be a horse race. This should be a Kerry blow-out.
This election is a referendum on the policies and leadership of President Bush. On November 2nd, we will take a simple test: will Americans succumb to terror? Or will we stand up and take our country back?
Our hopefully soon to be ex-president once struggled to say, “fool me once, shame on
Discover more from WIL WHEATON dot NET
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“Now, watch this drive.”
*giggle*
That was a really strong sentiment Wil, and one to which I thoroughly agree, however for me, the tears have been flowing. The election result here in Australia is final, and we have our own little Bush brown-noser Howard back in power, and even worse, with a majority in the senate as well. So all those crackpot legislations he’s been trying to get through for the last eight years, he’ll get’em through this term, cos there’s no one to stop him.
At least your presidents only have two terms to wreak their damage. Our prime ministers can just keep going as long as there are idiots to let’em.
A friend of mine just e-mailed me, and asked me if I felt like it was the night before Christmas, or if I felt like it was the night before I go to the dentist.
haha that last statement made me laugh. this election day will definitely be an interesting one. i know i’ll be glued to the tv and cnn. from what i’ve read of your political beliefs, i mostly agree too. go kerry! some of the scenarios i’ve heard of this election are enough to make my head hurt. and yes i’ve already voted 😉
OK eveyone, get out there and vote and it will be a landslide for Kerry!We must not let GOP steal again!
It’s the night before the christmas dentist.
Damn, I can’t wait to vote.
“Throughout this campaign, they have tried to terrorize us into giving them four more years”
“I will cry for my children, who will most certainly face a military draft, and I will cry for my country”
You realize that, on one hand, you are accusing Bush of using the threat of terrorism to win, and on the other, you are falling victim to the draft red herring.
As Bush said, there will be no draft. It is only the Democrats that are talking about a draft, in order to terroize young men and parents into voting for Kerry.
If you are really concerned about the possibilty of a draft, you should vote for Bush. Kerry has promised to add 2 divisions (over 100,000 new soldiers). Where do you think those men and women are going to come from?
I sincerely hope that your desire for a change of President not only happens, but as an outsider (New Zealand), I have to say that it is apparent from dealing with many, many US citizens from personal friends to business acquaintances that a change of President appears unlikely. There may well be a great deal of ill-will directed at the US from around the world, but the conservative “heartland” of the US is sending a strong message that it doesn’t actually care what we think of the US, and that we should fear the consequences of pur apparent ill-will toward the US. New Zealand was the only WWII ally forced to repay in full their Lend-Lease obligations (1944 Canberra Pact for more details) and this significantly damaged our fragile economy, and meant 40 years of protectionist big government. Punitive measures from the US against those that stand up on the international stage against bullying foreign policy are nothing new, and have always had the support from a large percentage of the US population as being necessary practice to maintain American sovreignty.
Everybody who is eligible to vote in the US, who reads Wil’s blog, and who cares about a global community based on the celebration of differences, not the homogeneous white christian planet dreamed of by Bush, VOTE. Don’t leave the outcome in the hands of the swing states or Florida. Show the rest of the world that you care enough about your democracy to actually exercise your democratic right. VOTE.
Don’t let another Evil Empire grow.
Hear, hear.
Couldn’t agree with you more, Wil. It helps a little to know that there are other people as freaked as I am about what could happen tomorrow.
Thanks for this post, Wil.
Crazy… I have, in my whole life, not been as excited/nervous/scared about any elections as this one now. And it’s not even my country. It will not just affect your country, but all of us. You wouldn’t believe the “fever” with which people are following this over here where I live.
One of my friends will pull an allnighter to stay uptodate… imagine!
I don’t feel very confident about Kerry, I have to say… but I guess, at this point it is picking the lesser of the two evils. Bush must go… and I hope your optimism will prove you right.
What I really want to say is that from my experience and observations here, there has been a mild climate change. It is true that there has been a huge anti-Americanism over here… but I feel it has changed to a specific anti-Bushism (if that is a word). Most of us are aware how Bush overrides the public opinion, playing lone ranger (Blair does the same here). Most of us, I guess and hope, know that Bush does not represent America… he just represents his asshole brigade.
I love your country, and I have never ceased to do so. My experience with Americans has been, almost without exception, a wonderful one.
We are holding thumbs over here… all my heartfelt monkey mojo and prayers that Bush will go.
I must say, I’ve been enjoying the freedom the last 10 days to mute every single political ad that has crossed my TV screen. Early voting rawks. \m/
Mr. Baxtor: In 1998, when Dubya was running for re-election as Texas governor, he told his constituents that he had no intention of running for president and made a commitment to serve his entire second gubernatorial term. I give his commitment not to instate the draft no credence whatsoever, because he’s already proved to me that he’s willing to tell the big lie in order to get elected.
peeps: ‘Canada?’
It’s the night before the christmas dentist. – Sean Bonner
That is the most terrifying imagery I’ve EVER had in my head.
Andrew – So we have established that politicians lie and want to get elected…what’s new? (John Kerry hasn’t shown up for work in 2 years).
There’s an interesting poll that highlights one of the reasons I don’t care for Bush – he and his employees actively mislead people. Bush supporters continue to believe things that are provably false.
The full poll results and methodology is on “pipa.org”
72% of Bush supporters continue to believe that Iraq had actual WMD (47%) or a major program for developing them (25%).
56% assume that most experts believe Iraq had actual WMD
57% also assume, incorrectly, that Duelfer concluded Iraq had at least a major WMD program.
75% of Bush supporters continue to believe that Iraq was providing substantial support to al Qaeda
63% believe that clear evidence of this support has been found.
60% of Bush supporters assume that this is also the conclusion of most experts
55% assume, incorrectly, that this was the conclusion of the 9/11 Commission.
Steven Kull, director of PIPA, comments, “One of the reasons that Bush supporters have these beliefs is that they perceive the Bush administration confirming them. Interestingly, this is one point on which Bush and Kerry supporters agree.” Eighty-two percent of Bush supporters perceive the Bush administration as saying that Iraq had WMD (63%) or that Iraq had a major WMD program (19%).
The article goes on to say that Bush supporters “have not accepted the idea that it does not matter whether Iraq had WMD or supported al Qaeda.”
“To support the president and to accept that he took the US to war based on mistaken assumptions likely creates substantial cognitive dissonance, and leads Bush supporters to suppress awareness of unsettling information about prewar Iraq.”
It looks like most of the folks voting for Bush will be voting for the fictional “Made For TV” version.
It feels like the night before you go in to find out the results of a medical test for a major disease. You want the news to be good, but the seriousness of the test scares the bejeezus out of you.
Hey Wil,
I think that was probably one of the most well thought out and HONEST political posts you’ve made. While I usually share your thoughts, sometimes I disagree, and in the past some of your political stuff has rubbed the “Is he CRAZY” button. But even the stuff in here that I’m not 100% on board with (and it’s not much) is still very well explained and thoughtful.
When Jon Stewart gets drafted into Politics, you should totally take over the Daily Show. 🙂
“As Bush said, there will be no draft.”
sure, no need for a draft when you have a back door one.
Dude! (Yes I’ve listened to the Gnomedex recordings *grin*)
You are right on the money – at least as far as the rest of the world is concerned. Believe me when I tell you there are literally hundreds of people that I actually know who are rooting for Kerry and more importantly for America today, and the wider world as a whole seems to follow that trend. For all of any country’s faults, the ideal of America still represents everything that we should all aspire to, regardless of nationality, creed, sex, race etc., and by that I mean a place where all people can come together as one, as equals and live their lives in freedom. As an outsider, with easy access to non-establishment media (i.e. without looking for it on the .Net) it is easy for me to see that GW is a monstrous person, at least in terms of his politics, who is prepared to take that ideal and burn it on the altar in return for power and influence at home, whilst missing the wider picture that he is plunging your country into the deepest, blackest mire of ill-feeling on the international stage, perhaps that it has ever faced.
Good Luck for today, I’m no Christian but I’ll be praying my way for a new start for you guys – Go Kerry!
Oh god. It really is like that isn’t it? I can’t decide if I feel like tomorrow is the best day, or the worst. It’s enough to drive a woman insane 😉
Nice words Wil 🙂
Wil
Thank you for being politically silent up to this point. In my business, I never talk politics or religion. But heck, this is your site and it’s all about you and your thoughts so I’ll respect them.
I am a conservative and a WWdN fan. I have many liberal friends and hope you are one too. But, I couldn’t disagree with you more about President Bush.
Another thing, where is your support for Kerry? All I hear is Bush this and Bush that. Don’t you realize that there can be someone worse than “W”? The Russians wanted better than the Czar and they got Lenin and Stalin.
I’ll be voting for Bush tomorrow and I will be sleeping like a baby tonight. I went to the dentist last week.
Val
It feels like the night before you go in to find out the results of a medical test for a major disease. You want the news to be good, but the seriousness of the test scares the bejeezus out of you.
I was thinking that it’s more like the night before major surgery, but this is a good description too.
Conservatives just aren’t swayed by these arguments that are so compelling for you and me.
They don’t care if the Supreme Court is stacked with conservatives because, well, it’s no skin off their backs. They never think THEY are the ones who will be deprived of civil liberties, and they feel that if women want abortions and non-heterosexuals want any kind of “special rights”, then those groups have gotta fight harder to get what they want, and in the meantime, they better lay low or they’ll end up on death row.
The conservatives especially don’t care about what the rest of the world thinks about their brand of foreign policy. They see it as being what is just and right. Who can argue with that? If it’s right, it’s right; global consensus isn’t necessary. Obviously they also see things in black and white; anything short of “nuke ’em all” is tantamount to raising a white flag in their eyes.
In general, they also feel that looking out for yourself is more important than looking out for anyone else. It’s like a sports rivalry; on some level, they expect everyone else, friend or foe, to be just as adamant and vociferous in support of their own team. They expect that when push comes to shove, the players will duke it out in some way or other, and there will be winners and losers, and the losers are going to all go down fighting to the bitter end. They’re not out to change minds, they’re not out to rule the world (well, most of them, anyway), they’re just looking out for themselves, and when in the course of doing this, toes of other nations get stepped on, they expect that everyone else will jockey for position and push back, and we’ll all somehow end up with a piece of the proverbial pie.
This kind of independent, elbow-bumping, soapbox-shouting spirit is pervasive throughout our culture and is not unique to just “the heartland” or to one side of the American political spectrum. It is predicated on a number of assumptions that are false, like there being a level playing field, or that power and privilege are “earned”/deserved and thus those who don’t have enough of it to compete aren’t “fit” enough to survive / deserve to be subordinate to America’s ways.
But the conservatives generally don’t give a crap, because “we don’t need to ask Francie-poo if it’s OK to kick some ass” is fun to say and doesn’t require an education to believe. Ironically, Bush’s predecessor took a similar position when he sent cruise missiles into Sudan and bombers into Iraq without UN authorization, but conservatives for some reason honestly believe that he was “too soft on terror”, but I digress…
I used to be a Republican. Everything I’m saying here is based on my own recollection of how I used to think about the world, as well as on conversations I’ve had more recently with conservative friends, relatives, and random people on the net. I know I don’t speak for everyone. I’m just trying to make a point that it’s not that vast numbers of Bush supporters haven’t gotten the message about what Bush is doing, it’s that they really don’t see anything wrong with it. They just don’t care. On the whole, Bush represents their selfish, short-sighted interests, plain and simple.
Alan: Wil doesn’t want the comments section to become a dialogue, so I will merely say that I believe your assertion about Kerry is mistaken, and that I believe Bush always intended to run in 2000, making his promise not to more than a mere lie — it was bad faith with the people he is supposed to serve. (Mind you, his opponent in that election is currently in prison, so there you have it — not a good choice that year.) If you want the last word, it’s yours.
Val: Of course there are people worse than Bush. Luckily, Karl Rove isn’t running . . . or is he?
Wil, I’ve been keeping my eye on your blog for some time now wondering when and if you would comment on the election.
I wish I could share your opinion that Kerry will be elected, because American citizens are sick of the lies. But it seems that everyone I talk to outside of my circle of friends says they’re going to vote for Bush for one of the two following reasons: 1) I don’t like Kerry that much either. 2) Bush doesn’t take s#!t from anyone, that’s KEWL!.
It’s because of this I can’t help but worry. Still though, a glimmer of hope remains that you and others like you at least recognize that the country needs a change, and that George W. Bush should not be in charge.
I’m sitting here in Germany far away from America and I think I’m just as nervous as you are. I’m really afraid. I never thought that Bush could still have so many people who support him. I can’t understand that. I don’t have influence on the election, I can’t vote. But you can and I hope that you’ll make the right decision. Because this election is not only important for the future of America.I think I won’t sleep much next night…
I hate to burst a bubble, but you can go on and on about how Bush is terrible, I agree with you that Bush is a moron, but there are people that beleive he is our SAVIOR.
What I am talking about is the religious right in America, they are trying to take over the country in more ways than one. They beleive Bush is going to help them take us PAGANS over. Well I beleive that Bush would lie through his teeth to get into the oval office and tell the religious right anything they want to hear.
This is all turning out to be a “Religious War” with Iraq for the Born-Agains, but it really is just a stupid lie that Bush tells them to cover up the bullshit that he really is doing, which is raping Iraq for their resources, not just the oil but the money to be made “rebuilding” Iraq through a little company called Halliburton, that Vice Pres Chaney set up in his name and is receiving money from our tax dollars.
So in other words, Cheney is taking tax dollars and putting them right in his pocket, your tax dollars and mine.
And that is just the tip of the Everest sized mountain of bullshit that the George “Dubya” Bush administration has caused.
Kerry realizes all this and wants to do something about it. Even if he wins, he is still going to have an uphill battle with the rest of the “Dubya Administration”, even though the Republicans that are in that part of the administration are only about 1/3 of the total Republicans. Bush managed to screw things up THAT bad, but thank “god” that there are still a lot of Republicans that have brains and think Bush is a bastard.
We are going to pay for it for a long time no matter what. So you might as well just say screw all this and try to find happiness like you were saying, and well “pray” for the best I guess. LMAO.
Political stuff is basically a waste of time to discuss, but I will say this:
This draft talk is ridiculous, and I mean that quite literally. I’ll wager any amount of money on this point, because it will never happen, not in the next 4 years.. no matter who becomes president.
Coincidentally, the “most important election in our lifetime” is sort of misleading. Wil’s like what? 30 something? Not even half of his lifespan has been expended.
I think a more accurate assessment is that this is probably the lamest election in our lifetime. They gave us two poops and now we get to choose which one we think smells the best.
In the end, it’s still a poop.
Personally, I’m researching which countries will accept my application for Political Asylum…
I’m favoring The Netherlands…
This is amazing. I am conservative and I absolutely cannot comprehend what could cause someone to make such untenable assertions as are in your post today, Wil, and this comment section.
– Cheney LOST money when he left Haliburton to become VP and Bush has no ties to the company. Does it make sense that they would invade Iraq for ill-gotten Haliburton money? In any case, congress approved of the war; they’re certainly not making money thereby.
– What’s wrong with protecting our oil interests abroad? Particularly if we can free millions from life under an uncontestedly horrible dictator?
– Bush attacked Iraq to drive the pagans from America? Do you really believe that?
– Is it better to do what other countries want, or to retain national soverignty and DO WHAT WE THINK IS RIGHT? Global tests haven’t worked historically, they lead to paralysis. Yes, if it’s right, it’s right. To argue this point you have to show that 1) there is no God or other source of basic moral authority 2) Government has no purpose, it can do whatever the hell it wants, regardless of what is pragmatically best 3) no action people can take is better or worse than any other (because in a democracy, the government enacts the [moral] will of the people)
– True, conservatives do want conservative judges. Liberals want liberal judges. What’s your point?
– Conservatives are not against women’s rights; to say we are is pure propaganda. We oppose abortion for one reason only: we believe the fetus is a human. Therefore, abortion must be murder. I don’t like the conclusion, but I have to accept it. Further, we conservatives have far, far, far better science backing their claims on this issue than do the liberals. Look it up sometime – the fetus has its own brainwave patterns, heartbeat, blood type, etc. and is viable OUTSIDE THE WOMB (empyrically) within the period that it can legally be aborted.
– Conservatives do care about other people and sincerely believe that a capitalist system (a system which rewards individual effort) is best for everybody. Greatest good for the greatest number, anyone? I’m not pro-capitalist because I think it’ll line my own pockets.
– WMDs & Iraqi Terror Links
– WMD Development programs in Iraq
– We know Saddam HAD wmd in the Gulf War. We know he didn’t destroy them. What’s the logical conclusion?
– Can someone liberal explain to me how Bush lied to get us into Iraq? Even if you could do that, how do you explain Kerry’s vote to invade? How do you explain Kerry’s stance during his last senate race? “If you do not believe that Iraq is a clear and immediate threat to the United States of America, do not give me your vote!”
– Draft will never happen; it’s not as though Bush can just decree one, it has to get through congress, which will not happen unless those congressmen think it’ll get them re-elected. Further, a draft now would have to include women, and nobody will vote that through. A draft is a non-issue.
– If you want to talk about terror influencing the voters, you have to discuss the newest Osama tape. In it he said he’d direct attacks only against those states which go for Bush. Putting aside the basic improbability of Osama keeping this promise, what we have here is a known, effective terrorist threatening to kill Bush supporters. And you’re asserting that Bush is lieing terror-monger for saying that there’s a threat of terrorist attacks? How is this logical?
– Kerry voted to invade Iraq, voted to deny funding for the stuff he agrees our troops need, says that the tax cut was bad (despite ALAN GREENSPAN saying otherwise), now wants to send MORE troops to Iraq AND Afghanistan AND secure our borders more AND he’ll do it all for less cost AND he’ll balance the budget and cut the deficit while he’s at it. It doesn’t add up.
All of that having been said,
I live in the uk and have never posted before but would say this..most of the countries you list like Americans, I visited for 2 months and never have I met a more universally friendly, open and fun group of people. ( On the eastern side anyway. I did not head west.) I now have a 3 year old but look forward to the day I can come back. We all know Mr Bush is not representative of the average American. Never mistake political attacks for personnal ones
Wil, claiming that you cry about every event in your life is a really cheap emotional gimmick.
It’s a tool for those that can not express themselves well, and you are better than that.(at least I hope you are)
Please do us a favor and grow up.
You know, I agree with a lot of that, except for one part. The reinstation of the draft was a Democrat idea.
Oh yeah, and I avoid Salon and the Daily Kos for the same reasons I avoid the New Republic, the Drudge Report, and the Weekly World News.
Wish me luck, I’m off to work the polls on 3 hours of sleep!
Wil – you’ve hit the nail on the head for me. My husband and I have been lamenting that our vote won’t count for much as we live in Texas. IMHO we need to get rid of the electoral college – if we had, we wouldn’t be in this fiasco. I will be sorely disappointed if the count today ends up the same as last time. (It almost makes a Texas gal wanna move
Wil,
I was disappointed in your “political post,” though, I can’t say I’m not suprised. It was fairly obvious to me which candidate you supported. It seems that the talking points you have offered are straight from the DNC. I am a veteran of the U.S. Navy and a member of the American Legion. I have been a fan of yours since the beginning. While I don’t fault you for your choice, I don’t accept your reasons for choosing a candidate that hasn’t a clue of what it means to be Commander in Chief. Those of us that have served honorably know what it means and the majority of us see that Kerry as President would be a disaster for our country and our military. I don’t expect to sway you or anyone else for voting for Bush as I am, just please understand that this country is bitterly divided, there have been dirty tricks and lies from both sides. If John Kerry is elected there will be just as many Americans that will be disappointed, including myself. No matter who wins we need to get over ourselves, and support our President whoever he is. If John Kerry is elected, as much as I despise him now, I will still support him, I would expect the same from Kerry supporters, afterall, I voted for Clinton twice. I would hope that we could all be good citizens and show the world that we are Americans first.
Wil,
I completely disagree with what you’ve said. That’s what’s beautiful about America. Get out and vote everyone! I’ll already voted for Bush.
When you do talk politics, you make a lot more sense than the whole lot of chattering experts on the tube. Thanks.
You’re wrong to think that the British hate America now.
We may find it inexplicable how you managed to elect George Bush, and people are certainly upset at having been dragged into the Iraq conflict, but we don’t think any less of Americans as a whole. I think most people are smart enough to make the distinction between the opinions and actions of George W. and those of the average man in the street.
I hope you get your wish when the results are in.
I heard tonight that, for the last 18 elections, if the Washington Redskins lost it’s last game before the election then the party in power lost the Presidential election as well. The odds of this happening are supposed to be 1 in 235 million.
By the way, the Redskins lost to the Green Bay Packers. So, Bush is gone, or else the Universe is skewed.
I have to say that if I lived in the USA (I don’t, I’m British, and despite how unhappy I am with Britain at the moment it seems infinitely better than the USA, maybe I’ll move to Germany) I’d be feeling not like the night before Christmas, or the night before I go to the dentist, but the night before I find out if I’m going to be executed or not. Please, please please – if you have a vote in this election, use it wisely and don’t sit at home thinking it doesn’t matter. Just vote! Turn out, show people that you do care.
the thing i’m worried about even more than bush becoming president again is people becoming passive about elections again. all of america is excited about this election. i’ve actually been able to talk to coworkers about ballot measures! when on earth has that happened before? i’m worried that once this election passes, people will stop going to the polls again. i think that’s more damaging to our democracy than bush has been (though his administration has been plenty damaging).
“Now Watch this drive.”
that quote has to be the funniest thing i have ever heard.
Hay wil!: did you get the “vote Picard Riker T-shirt from startrek.com? i just got mine in the mail! its great! (although it scares me that a lot of people dont get it.)
as always, a great post Wil!
I just came from voting. I couldn’t sleep last night. My feelings on the election are sinusoidal – up for a half hour and then doom for a few hours.
I just hope that at the end of this there is elation. I feel like I wasn’t fooled the first time – I knew that it would be bad. I didn’t realize quite how bad it would be. None of us did.
Thank you for writing this entry. I hope it kicks someone in the rear end hard enough to make them go and vote.
Wil,
You’re a talented actor, a gifted writer, you seem to be a great dad and husband and an OK poker player 😉 you come across as bluntly honest and one who gives thought to what he thinks. That’s cool.
However, you’re from California, in the creative field and within the entertainment industry and simply out of touch of the average person and much of the rest of “us”.
Your take on Bush and Cheney is skewed at best but it is your take and you are entitiled to it.
Bush stood up and took action when this country needed it. After 8 years of disgust, lies, dirty politics (on both sides of the aisle) Bush has been refreshing. I don’t like all that he has done however he actually did something. He realized and articulated (albeit short words and sentences!) that we were attacked not because of us but because of the hatred of others. Instead of apologizing for our freedoms and our great country he said enough.
He acted and told the world that with us or against us. 30 countries chose to be with us in the war, not bad. Sometimes the people in charge have to make decisions that htye know will not be popular – I see that in Bush, I may not agree with all, and I don’t but I see a team of leaders that are not deciding on polling data like the previous 8 years.
However as a long time reader of your blog – I will be voting for Bush/Cheney and though I do not belive they will win I have the opinion they have more than earned another 4 years in office.
The last thing this country needs is the most liberal of liberals, who is a billionnaire and brings a personal injury lawyer along who is a heartbeat away from the oval office. My gosh, it’s lawyers who have made this country and elections in general the circus they have become. Having 2 of them in office is a nightmare scenario.
You and I disagree and that’s fine. The neat thing about this country and your site – is we can respectfully agree to disagree.
Here is hoping that whomever wins the election does so in a decisive manner so all the lawyers can go away.
Well Wil, you certainly managed to upset 50% of Americans with this post. As a Brit I’m shocked that Bush is tied in the polls at this point, Kerry should have won this at a canter. Bush and cohorts have lied time after time over the past 3+ years and yet still people seem to believe everything they spout. Wake up America before you saddle the world with another 4 years of Bush.
Wil,
Thanks for speaking up.
:o)
PS – I agree. It’s not America the world hates, it’s Bush and the shouty/sneaky people behind him.
Right on Wil!
Good luck America. Don’t mess it up this time.
Mmmmm…..no matter which way it goes, I’ll be optomistic if we wake up tomorrow and know the results. I think it will be a few days more.
Historically, a statistical dead heat is always bad news for the incumbent.
You are right Wil, Kerry will win. The young (and un-polled) vote will not disappoint.
i would just like to say, if some brits now have a dislike for your nation, you should know that at least this brit shall remain standing shoulder-to-shoulder with you. we have been allies and friends, that is how it should always be. God bless America. and her people.
i just read some of the other posts. im glad that more brits have a similar view to me. i hope things turn out the way you want them to.