September 14, 2004

NOT OVER YET

Hard to believe the Democrats were so confident only two months ago:

Look at the lines at the Michael Moore movie! Look at Bush's approval rating slip below 50 percent! Listen to the respected Democratic congressman who, when I asked how he thought the election was shaping up, said: "It's over."

It's scary but true: Democrats have entered the Gloating Zone. And this is before the convention gives the ticket a bump that will really go to its head.

The convention was more of a smack to the head for the Kerry gang. Still, it’s worth remembering how quickly were their fortunes reversed now that the Republicans are leading:

There is a certain cockiness (what do they call that in Texas?) beginning to creep into some corners of the Bush camp as the president's campaign suddenly has the Big Mo (Big Mo as in Momentum, Big Mo as in Missouri). The president was gaining rapidly in August, took a slight lead just before the opening of the Republican National Convention, and is now beginning to pull away from John Kerry in battleground states like Missouri and Ohio.

UPDATE. The Guardian’s Peter Preston tries to work out what went wrong, and fears Bush will win:

This, Bush says, is his last election. This is his last chance to show us how it's done. With soft-money ads and surrogate slurs and grotesque simplifications cooked in political hothouses? Is that the way? Is that what Cuba and Libya, not to mention the rest of us, have to look forward to? It isn't entirely arrogant to hope for something a bit less scummy than that.

Poor Cuba and Libya.

Posted by Tim Blair at September 14, 2004 12:24 AM
Comments

On Ten News they are saying two Australians may of been kidnapped in Iraq. Anyone seen any other reports?

Posted by: drscroogemcduck at September 14, 2004 at 12:27 AM

There is a certain cockiness (what do they call that in Texas?)...

They don't call it anything, just as fish have no word for water.

Posted by: Angie Schultz at September 14, 2004 at 12:49 AM

Naah, they call it confidence. Dems should look into it sometime.

Posted by: Brian Jones at September 14, 2004 at 01:08 AM

The sadly funny thing is people who hate Bush just won't GET why he won. They'll have all sorts of theories, but they won't be the correct ones.

Posted by: Chris Josephson at September 14, 2004 at 02:42 AM

"Cuba and Libya"?? What the hell is he going on about?

I suspect Karl Rove is behind this editorial, in an effort to discredit the anti-Bush side. That guy has been a literal whirlwind of activity recently.

Posted by: Yaron at September 14, 2004 at 03:53 AM

"Surrogate slurs."

What a wonderfully useful concept. Unless you are actually a staff member of Bush's campaign, you had better not express any sort of opinion in public that deviates from the Gospel as Spoken by the Prophets of the Media. If you do, the left's Analog Brownshirts will condemn you as a sock puppet operated by Karl Rove, and do whatever it takes to smear and discredit you. Because God forbid that actual private citizens should form their own opinions. Shut up, you goddamned peasants, and do what the Fourth Estate tells you to! How dare you think for yourselves?

Posted by: Harry at September 14, 2004 at 06:19 AM

What a wonderfully useful concept. Unless you are actually a staff member of Bush's campaign, you had better not express any sort of opinion in public that deviates from the Gospel as Spoken by the Prophets of the Media. >>

Actually, to be fair, Bush supports that concept -- he's been trying to get the 527s shut down.

Posted by: Steven Jens at September 14, 2004 at 08:58 AM

It isn't entirely arrogant to hope for something a bit less scummy than that.

Well, actually, Peter, it is arrogant. After all, it's we Americans who are electing our president; we're not electing him for you. So, put a cork in the scummy, snide commentary and mind your own damned business.

Posted by: Butch at September 14, 2004 at 10:20 AM

cooked in political hothouses

This phrase may grow on me, but hasn't someone mixed their metaphors too vigorously?

Posted by: Andjam at September 14, 2004 at 05:34 PM

"Bush says" it is his last election? Actually, I think, Peter, you will find that it is the "Constitution" which "says" it is his last election.

Posted by: Martin Adamson at September 14, 2004 at 07:58 PM

"There is a certain cockiness (what do they call that in Texas?)..."

Actually, Bush addressed this in his acceptance speech:

Some folks look at me and see a certain swagger, which in Texas is called "walking."

Posted by: Ken Summers at September 15, 2004 at 05:54 AM