And so it begins

[Tirren]

Originally posted by Chiana
Thats the Royal Navy for ya! Still can't understand why Canada needs sub but to by them off us? Very silly

I've been reading a report on why American people said they voted for Bush and I have seen a very frightning theme. A large number of people say that although they supported Kerry's policies they voted for Bush becuase of his very very public belief in God. I'm expecting any time soon for Bush to insist that God put him there and it is a divine rule. I can't believe people voted for him not on his policies but purely because he is a Protestant.

I've also read elsewhere that at the polling stations there were leaflets saying 'a vote for Bush is a vote for God' and although these are illegal they were not removed.

Is this true?

Remember what the bible said of the Pharisee's, even what Jesus said about and did to them? They were very-very-very outspoken about their faith yet, they were seen as no closer to God than anyone else. Have we even once seen Bush in church? I remember seeing Clinton in church on TV several times. I'm not even sure what faith Bush is a member of, just that God helped him quit drinking, or so he says.

[Caishaurianne]

Originally posted by Tirren
I hate to point this out, but according to Exit polling, "Moral Issues" was one of the key factors to this years election decisions... Now to my point. If you have the ability, look at the extended exit polls and see where a vast majority of the actual vote were coming from (demographically speaking of course). There is one portion that breaks it up by "education" I thought it ironic how the highest percentage voting for bush were the least educated and how the percentage changed all the way up to post-grad study slightly more in favor of Kerry. I'm not saying those who have not completed high school/GED equivalent are stupid, just that they tend to be more easily persuaded with fear and lies than with truth and courage.

Just thought I would point that out.

I find that polling striking, but it is entirely possible for lesser-educated people to still keep themselves well-informed. More telling are studies (Full report here) that show both Bush-supporters and viewers of Fox (often the same people) to have very distorted ideas of current events (in comparison to those who voted for the non-Bush and NPR listeners). I hesitate to characterize conservatives, Republicans, or Bush-supporters as less intelligent, because I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, seem disrespectful, or be misunderstood to generalize that conservatism itself is stupid...and yet, there is some truth to the idea that Republicans are less-knowledgeable about the issues.

So let me be clear. I think there are many conservative stances that are logical--I do, in fact, hold or at least sympathize with many conservative ideas--but I think that the currect conservative movement and media is falling down on the job even more than other media sources. It is failing its own adherents, and those people vote on issues that affect ME. It is one thing for laws to be created because other people intellectually disagree with me. It is quite different when I think that those people and I are on the same page, with only propaganda to divide us.

Disclaimer: This does not mean that I don't think there are well-informed conservatives and it does not mean that I don't think there are good reasons for supporting conservative causes. I do. That's why I'm so upset by the general trend of misperception--because such misinformation is not necessary to a strong and logical conservative stance. Note: There are conservatives on this board that rise above the misinformation these studies show, so I don't want you to think I'm trying to target y'all.

[Kaylanna]

Feleron that was bad. Patty Murry wasn't praising his work she was telling a class of high schoolers why no one would give up OBL! Nethercutt took that out of context and was fined 10,000 dollars and asked to take it off the air and he also lost 1 million dolars in his parties money for advirtisment because of those comercials!!!

[charla]

Caishaurianne, that PDF was really interesting. I just glanced through it, but it had a lot of cool stuff in it. Thanks for posting it.

I think I'm just a nerd with a Communication degree.

[sunrunnerwitch]

Originally posted by Xerxies
Maybe I misunderstand the context of that statement, or the way you meant to apply it.... but... isn't that what happened to Kerry?

He didn't properly appreciate the stupidity of voters? Is that the context?

Anyways... I'm taking no offense at your post. I can understand your bitter disappointment. I can only offer the following to try and make sense of what happened yesterday.

I've been saying this to my liberal friends for the duration of the campaigning: If Kerry had been even half of a half-way decent canidate for the presidency, he would have won by a landslide.

Even the republicans had to have noticed that Bush is a crappy-ass president. But they didn't feel that Kerry was a viable alternative. He didn't even have a campaign of his own... all he did was point fingers at Bush for 6 months. He as much as admitted during a public debate that his wife wears the pants in the family. (I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that.... but if were electing the president, we should be voting for the canidate, not the canidates spouse)

Kerry just assumed that the public was fed up enough to turn to any port-in-the-storm. Bad campaign strategy. Now we suffer.

This is exactly my sentiment, and the sentiment of those I know who voted for Bush. Most, me included, probably would have voted Democrat if the Democratic candidate had been just about anyone but Kerry. The fact that the election was so closely divided despite Kerry's incredibly idiotic campaign strategy shows the truth of this.