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Politics : Don't Blame Me, I Voted For Kerry -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Karen Lawrence who wrote (9605)	3/22/2004 2:34:26 PM
From: stockman_scott	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 81568

George Bush and the Power of Money thousandreasons.org March 20, 2004 The polls are inconclusive, but the trend is clear: George Bush is rising. In the key states where the next presidential election will likely be decided, his approval ratings have climbed as much as 10% according to Republican pollsters. Public opinion is a fickle thing: no one is ever certain why our preferences for one thing or another rise and fall. But we often look to events immediately prior to changes in the polls in the belief that people respond to them in rational ways. For instance, when a politician wins approval for legislation that promises to help large numbers of people, we expect that politician's approval rating to rise. Likewise, if they are caught doing something illegal, we expect their numbers to fall. It is with this in mind that we examined the events of the past two weeks to see what might account for George Bush's sudden improvement in the polls. Below is a list of headlines that have appeared in major newspapers across the country and around the world concerning George Bush and his policies, both domestic and foreign. Taken in its entirety, the list is damning, yet, miraculously, Bush has risen in the polls. We must therefore conclude that any drop that might have been expected from news about his policies is more than offset by his television advertising. In the ads, which have inundated viewers, voters have seen Bush's attacks on Kerry, excuses for failed policies in Iraq, exaggerations, flag waving, the exploitation of 3,000 deaths, but more than anything they have seen the power of money. They have seen what $150 million can buy. You don't have to be an idealist to lament the passing of democracy and the ascendancy of image. The power of television, rarely doubted since its invention, is most insidious when mixed with politics, especially within a system that allows the candidate with the most money to gain the most exposure. This is compounded in modern politics by candidates -- most recently George Bush -- who are more interested in political power than truth. What we have seen over the past two weeks -- a flurry of negative news about Bush followed by a rise in his approval ratings -- is the best evidence yet that democracy is dead. For details of the following headlines and links to sources, see thousandreasons.org C.I.A. Chief Says He's Corrected Cheney Privately Uncertain Cost of Iraq War Has Some Wary Squandering the trauma of September 11 Bush loves to tinker with Constitution Exaggerations chip away at credibility of White House A Watchdog Sees Flaws in Bush's Ads on Medicare Group Is Suing Federal Agency Over Post-9/11 Health Hazards Critics Tackle $10B Request for Missiles No More Excuses on Jobs Stop terrorizing citizens under guise of Patriot Act Sept. 11 politics / The president can't have it both ways Bush Economic Team Draws Fire Over Jobs Report Faults EPA for Water Claims Missteps on Economy Worry Bush Supporters Official Says He Was Told To Withhold Medicare Data McJobs mistake / Sorry, but burger flipping isn't manufacturing Election ad 'plays on fear of Arabs' Kennedy Criticizes Bush 'Credibility Gap' A Look at U.S. Military Deaths in Iraq Florida as the Next Florida The Politics of Self-Pity Arabs See Danger, not Hope, in Iraq Furious anti-Bush voters like Kerry's health care theme Suffrage Suffers in the Land of Rights Privacy Protecting Programs Killed Jobs fall behind growth in working-age population Spanish leader accuses Bush and Blair A Vindicated Hans Blix Returns to U.S. Spanish election lesson to the world The truth leaks out Dose of reality / The president should size up the job numbers here Weak on Terror Bush showing his talk is cheap on education reform Bush's Medicare deceit Many Say U.S. Aims for World Domination Deficit Study Disputes Role of Economy Latest Bush Ad Deceptive US government faked Bush news reports Dear W, Your Father Knew Best How Bush treats women Statistics lie on the true cost of living Voters Want Honesty For Iraqis in Harm's Way, $5,000 and 'I'm Sorry' Spain's Leader: Iraq Occupation a 'Fiasco' Margaret Krome: Deficit belongs to Bush President treads a rough road OIL INTERESTS: High gas won't pump Bush up McCain Comes to Kerry's Defense on National Security Contempt for Congress Poland Says It Was Misled Over WMD in Iraq AP Tally: Iraq Suicide Bombs Killed 660 Spain's Next Prime Minister Says U.S. Should Dump Bush Enemies of the States Taken for a Ride A year in Iraq / Despite great American sacrifice, an uncertain future Off the Mark on Cost of War, Reception by Iraqis Violence in Iraq: 'no one is safe anymore' Terrorists try a twist on Bush's strategy Fears Impacted U.S. Reporting on Iraq Bush's Distortions Misled Congress in Its War Vote --Edward M. Kennedy Ex - Adviser: Iraq Considered After 9 / 11 Medicare law effort causing fallout for Bush Bush was warned, Clinton aides claim A War's Woeful Results Some Iraqis Say They're More Insecure Justice in a Bind On Anniversary of a Divisive War, Italians Cry to Withdraw Troops