Why Bush Won
There has been a lot of discussion by the media pundits and throughout the blogging community about why Bush won. Some argue it was terrorism; others suggest that the ambiguous "moral values" propelled Bush to his second term. Whatever the real answer may be, it's a bit alarming that everyone feels it is urgent to figure out the reason immediately. I'm not convinced that the answer needs to be reached right now.
Instead of making a lot of assertions and statements about why Bush won, progressives need to spend more time asking questions and listening. One of the reasons "red staters" claim "blue staters" are elitist is because they say we don't listen enough. Whether that's true or not, one of the best things we can do right now is listen, without making judgments, and let it sink in for a while. Once we've spent some time and distanced ourselves a bit from the emotional aftermath of the election, we'll be able to start assessing what we should learn from November 2nd, 2004.
In the meantime, progressives should be focusing on how best to deal with the upcoming conservative onslaught.
Instead of making a lot of assertions and statements about why Bush won, progressives need to spend more time asking questions and listening. One of the reasons "red staters" claim "blue staters" are elitist is because they say we don't listen enough. Whether that's true or not, one of the best things we can do right now is listen, without making judgments, and let it sink in for a while. Once we've spent some time and distanced ourselves a bit from the emotional aftermath of the election, we'll be able to start assessing what we should learn from November 2nd, 2004.
In the meantime, progressives should be focusing on how best to deal with the upcoming conservative onslaught.
posted by Mason at 2:10 AM
2 Comments:
Bush won with a slash and burn campaingn in my opinion. Just the same as connection 9/11 to Iraq, although what he said was not true, after saying it with authority and repeatedly in a heated state of fear the message was effective as propaganda.
It would be nice if we could instead of constantly reacting to everything, we could just put out a statement on issues that is true, positive, and a constructive path for change.
As in reframing the guns issues as:
Safe Gun Ownership.
Reframing the Pro-Choice issue
as Pro-Rights issues
Reframing the moral issue in terms of
Separation of Church and State or
Our Constitutional Guarantees.
I am new to this site, so I hope I am doing this correctly. I read your post and I think it was very well said! I am a Michigander than moved to Florida and I blog in our local paper. I try to explain things to the locals but they are sooo brainwashed here.I am hoping to improve my efforts, and I just think there are alot of people on here that really know how to speak on the issues. If any of you have a chance to read through some of the outragious claims made in my hometown paper- you will see how monumental my task is. Please feel free to send some of your thoughts over this way, please !!! lol www.chronicleonline.com It is located in central west Florida (at the bend) and the locals here are absolutely brainwashed! thanks*
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