Post-election thoughts

I don't have enough insight in to how to win a campaign to really criticize Kerry, so I have stayed away from bashing him -- though others haven't. But one thing really sticks out, and I can't get over how he mishandled it continually. You remember the famous line, "I voted for the $87 billion before I voted against it."? This was used time and again by Bush against Kerry. But there is a really simple explanation.

When Kerry was going to vote for the $87 billion bill for additional appropriations for the military in Afghanistan and Iraq, the bill he supported was paid for by rescinding some of the tax cuts on the upper class. And Bush said he would VETO that bill. Only when the Republican version did away with actually paying for the $87 billion, instead of adding it to our debt (the ceiling for which, btw, the Republicans just yesterday raised for the 3rd time in the last four years), did Kerry vote against the bill.

Now how difficult is that to explain? Why didn't Kerry explain it simply? And I would have emphasized Bush's threat to veto. I don't know why.

Another post-election quote comes in from a reader, and I can't resist posting it:

"As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."

H.L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)