posted on Nov, 4 2004 @ 12:18 PM
Okay, since it seems that a lot of people are mystified on how Bush won, I will elucidate you as to my own reasonings.
First, for the stat gatherers -
I a 33 year-old, bi-lingual (Russian/English), male with some college. My current household income is right around $50,000 for two of us. I am
married and have been for 5 years. I am a practicing Catholic. I am a third generation Irish-American, though was raised in a primarily Hispanic
household - my stepfather and his family are Mexican Americans, with his parents having immigrated during WW2. My Grandpa became an American citizen
by serving in the Army. I work in the Entertainment Industry in Southern California. Uhhh... let's see, hopefully that is enough of my physical
demographic for you.
As to my opinions on the tough issues, I support the right to choose on abortion and am for gay marriage 100%. I believe in a strong military and
also in a strong foreign aid package. I think our education system is better than people give it credit for but could still use some help. I support
the death penalty but am also idealistic in the belief that people can change if they are willing to work at it. I have traveled abroad (though
mostly in Asia) and consider myself fairly well read.
I love my country and served for 4 years in the military, though don't think any less of people who haven't.
In short, like most Americans, and I dare say other humans, I have a complicated and unique view of the world.
Now, as to why I voted for Bush when I obviously don't share all of his views. I believe that Bush is, at heart, a good person. I feel that he has
a set of convictions and "rules" that he plays by. If these are based in his Christian foundation, then so be it. Our laws here are based on those
same beliefs, and I think they are pretty fair.
Everything I saw from Kerry was all doom and gloom and negativity. We Americans are, by and large, a nation of optimists and very hopeful to the
future. I don't tend to hear that message from the Democratic party. The Republican party has an attitude that with hard work and focus that every
single person in America can be successful and rich. The Democratic party has the attitude that, for whatever reason, the majority of people are
oppressed and/or unable to succeed without the government taking care of them.
I think that we are doing the right thing in Iraq and Afghanistan and, though people are dying... no - friends are dying - and I know as well as they
do that their deaths mean something. "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of Patriots and tyrants."
I can already hear the cries of "but Bush is a tyrant!" Get over it. That is a small-minded view of the world from someone who has never actually
seen injustices. Someone who thinks that panties on the head of a prisoner is somehow worse that being forced to watch as your wife is raped
repeatedly. Yes, Abu Ghraib was an embarassment but one which didn't "leak out" as so many say. It was intentionally released by those it would
harm the most. Why? Because it was the right thing to do.
Anyway, I voted for Bush because he believes what he believes and no amount of polling will change that. He has a moral compass, and though I don't
always agree with his beliefs I am happy that he at least has them.
Bush got my vote, and that of millions of my fellow Americans because he earned it when you look around. More American's own homes now than at any
other time in history. More black people. More white people. More hispanics. More Americans. The economy can't be that bad if that is the
case.
I am safer today because of his actions and the war against terrorism (fascism). Iraq has brought a non-traditional enemy onto a traditional
battleground.
To those of you wondering why there were so many more Kerry/Edwards signs, it's because I was like a lot of Bush supporters and was afraid of the
"tolerance" of Kerry's supporters. The day I put a Bush sticker on my car it was keyed. So much for the left supporting MY freedom of speech. In
my neighborhood, Bush signs were repeatedly destroyed and one house was spraypainted.
Anyway, I hope that I have laid out my reasons well enough to help those mystified by the results to understand that we didn't vote for Bush because
we are stupid, but because we looked around and saw a world and a future more in line with what Bush was offering than what Kerry was offering.
Thanks for reading.