11-05-2004, 02:44 PM
For those of you who really don't understand, the BBC Have Your Say page asked Americans why the yvoted for Bush. Pretty interesting - and you have to laugh at some of the cheekier comments.
http//news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/3981669.stm
Examples-
Joe Brassard, Boston, Massachusetts, USA - I voted for George W Bush because the Democrats spent all their time attacking the President, and not telling the country how they would do anything different. Bush has turned the recession into a growing economy, and is keeping us safe from terrorism. That's worth my vote any day.
Hayley, Dallas, Texas, USA - I voted for President Bush in my first election since I became eligible to vote because, while I prefer Kerry's social policies, I don't believe that the Democratic Party with its ambiguous stance on terror and the war in Iraq is truly capable of defending the US in a hostile world.
Tim, Los Angeles, CA, USA - I voted for Bush to usher in the complete and utter destruction of the United States. Sometimes, you just have to tear it all down and start over again. No one will destroy America faster than Bush. Go Bush!
Sara Smith, Atlanta, GA - I hope all you Bush-supporters lose your jobs in the next four years of economic crisis.
John Doe, Charlotte, USA - I wish Bush would resign. As a young American I registered to vote simply to vote against him. Something truly scares me about a man that cannot properly pronounce nuclear having control of the world's largest nuclear armament.
Annie, New York, NY - "I voted for Kerry, along with 75% of New Yorkers. He was the best man for the job, given the issues concerning us now. But then again, the issues concerning us New Yorkers and other major cities in the US do not seem to affect "Middle America."
Ryan O'Gara, Woodbridge, VA USA - I voted for Bush because of his moral clarity in confronting the challenges in our time. He is a sincere man who truly has the stomach to preserve our republic. History will demonstrate how farsighted he was as democracies take hold in the middle east and peace expands. History will also shame Europe for largely hiding behind their borders during this time when western democracies should be supporting the democratising of the Middle East.
Margaret, Minneapolis - USA - I voted for Mr. Bush by carefully examining the issues of each candidate and where they stood on these issues. I was very impressed with Mr. Bush on how he handled the 9/11 tragedy.
Bertha, Upstate NY - Bush is against abortion and that is all that matters to me.
Gonzalo Rodriguez, London, UK - I voted for Bush because I am a Bible-thumping right-wing gun lunatic who hates gays, isn't that right? That's not actually true, but it doesn't matter what the reality is, because that's how the European media will depict it. According to them, if I don't agree with pacifism and appeasement, I must be an inbred redneck idiot. So I suppose that's why I voted for Bush I am an idiot.
Lynda Roberts, Ruckersville, Virginia, USA - I voted against John Kerry because of his betrayal of his fellow servicemen who were in combat in Vietnam while he was publicly trashing them to the world here in the States.
David Schultz, Fenton, Iowa, USA - I voted for Bush because I am Pro-Life and against gay marriage. Bush stands more for these issues than does the Democratic Party.
Nathaniel, Houston, TX - I voted for Bush because he stands for many things I like. With regard to the things about Bush that I don't like, John Kerry did not present a clear and viable alternative policy. What else could I do?
Shante' Fosket, Chesapeake, VA - I voted for Bush in rejection of the corruption of the elite media. I voted for Bush in rejection of the vast corruption in the UN. I voted for Bush in rejection of fashionable politics with no substance. I voted for Bush because there is a time for diplomacy and he understands when that is.
Ben Rice, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania - Because he doesn't believe that our foreign policy needs a global test. Europe needs to get on board with us or get left behind!
John, St Paul, US - I knew I liked this guy right after 9/11 when he stood among Americans on a pile of rubble and stated "I can hear you, the world can hear you and soon the terrorists that knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon". Whether the Democrats want to admit it or not had there been a Democrat president in office at the time the most he would have done is throw a few harsh words at Osama and then would have forgot the whole thing happened.
Dewey Simpson, Erlanger, KY, USA - During a war a change in leadership may bring comfort to the enemy. Never bring your enemy comfort. While I am a Democrat domestically I would never want to bring comfort to our enemies. Also democrats are not as strong on moral issues as we should be. Maybe this will wake some of the leadership in our party.
Tom, Hudson, USA - About a month ago I read the 8,000 word article in the Sunday New York Times magazine that discussed John Kerry's views on terrorism and how he feels it should be handled. Frankly it scared me. It scared me that he wanted to handle it in the same manner as it has been handled in the 30 years prior to 9/11.
Howard, Chicago, USA - Gay marriage and abortion are a threat to our culture and security. I voted to preserve the morale values of this country.
Paul Young, Ivey, USA - I voted for President Bush mainly so he would be the one appointing a Supreme Court justice this term. Secondly for his moral stand. I hope and pray that President Bush will give serious and prolonged thought into bringing within his goals and/or policies some of the points and concerns that Senator Kerry has for our country.
John, Boston, Mass, USA - I voted for Bush because we need him to appoint judges who will finally allow some reasonable limits on abortion in this country. The system of no limits abortion that liberal judges imposed in the 1970s is one of the great evils that our generation must redress.
Rob, Madison, NJ, USA - I voted for President Bush because I refuse to be associated with a candidate or party that openly welcomes Michael Moore. I was actually leaning toward Kerry until Fahrenheit 911 was released. That heinous, hate filled movie and the fact that many in the Democratic Party and the Hollywood elite actually promoted it as the truth turned me.
John, Stockholm, Sweden - I moved to Europe nearly a year ago, and while I have tended to vote Republican most of my life, I was not particularly warm to President Bush. After being in Europe for a few months, however, my support for Bush was galvanized by seeing the completely unfair treatment he gets in the media here and hearing the constant criticism and contempt displayed for him by most Europeans.
Thomas Cunningham, St. Petersburg, FL, USA - I voted for President Bush because he provided relief to all taxpayers. Most importantly, however, Bush has liberated 50 million people in Afghanistan and Iraq, 75 percent of Bin Laden's henchmen have been captured or killed, while the remaining terrorists are running for their lives. Thank God for President Bush and America's greatest ally, Prime Minister Blair.
Glenn Meyer, Bridgeton, USA - I vote for politicians who come closest to my views
1. A strong national defence,
2. Smaller government,
3. More power and responsibility devolved to state and local governments, and
4. An end to carte blanche abortion.
While George Bush failed on smaller government, John Kerry fails on all of them.
Alex, Boston, MA - I think that it isn't enough that Kerry wasn't Bush. He had no solid plans except to make a better America. OK. How? He couldn't answer that. The more people heard him speak the more they realized that he had no clear plan.
Billy T, Marietta, Georgia, USA - I voted for George Bush because he is un-wavering with his course of actions and I believe has morals based in true faith of God. All through the election I saw John Kerry change his stance on almost every issue with no real plans to back up any of his promises.
Laura, USA - I voted for President Bush, because what others saw as stubbornness and arrogance... I saw as strength and perseverance. A strong nation needs a strong leader. Especially one who has beliefs and values which are based on compassion and a true desire for elevating the lives of others.
Paul, New York, USA - At the end of the day, Kerry simply wasn't a strong enough candidate and Edwards couldn't even deliver his own state. This election was a testament to how out of touch the Democratic Party has become to the American people. They assumed that all it took was a few speeches and sparkling smiles to win the presidency, but America saw through it.
Michael C, NY, USA - I was tired of people like Michael Moore trying to influence my decision by making movies that had only one purpose - tear down the president. I disagree with many of his policies and would not have voted for him except for the fact that I am sick and tired of these people telling me that I am not smart enough to figure out for myself what is right and what is wrong. The Republicans should thank Moore and give him a prominent table at the inauguration!
ndrew, Washington, DC - I voted for Bush for a number of reasons, but I have to confess one of them was because of all the lecturing and condescending opinions I read in the foreign press and heard from the "holier than thou" crowd in Europe. It just got on my nerves so much that people who only get a sliver of heavily bias coverage about America could hold such closed-minded opinions about our elections. Maybe four more years will give you a chance to open your minds to new ideas and consider that there are Americans who have a right to believe differently than you.
Patrick Burke, Swampscott, MA, USA - I voted for Mr Bush because Mr Kerry cannot be trusted. He has no moral values and I need a leader that stands by his actions and does not run when it gets tough. The world does not understand us here in America. I'm a highly educated, married person that owns guns, hunts, and is against gay marriage. I live and grew up in Massachusetts.
Shawnay Faircloth, Glasgow, Scotland - Europeans don't seem to understand American politics or our values. Americans including myself, voted for Bush because he was not afraid to show his faith in God nor does he back down from his word. He's a strong leader that can defend the US interests no matter the peer pressure from the world. Kerry is too liberal in his values and too cosy with the French.
http//news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/3981669.stm
Examples-
Joe Brassard, Boston, Massachusetts, USA - I voted for George W Bush because the Democrats spent all their time attacking the President, and not telling the country how they would do anything different. Bush has turned the recession into a growing economy, and is keeping us safe from terrorism. That's worth my vote any day.
Hayley, Dallas, Texas, USA - I voted for President Bush in my first election since I became eligible to vote because, while I prefer Kerry's social policies, I don't believe that the Democratic Party with its ambiguous stance on terror and the war in Iraq is truly capable of defending the US in a hostile world.
Tim, Los Angeles, CA, USA - I voted for Bush to usher in the complete and utter destruction of the United States. Sometimes, you just have to tear it all down and start over again. No one will destroy America faster than Bush. Go Bush!
Sara Smith, Atlanta, GA - I hope all you Bush-supporters lose your jobs in the next four years of economic crisis.
John Doe, Charlotte, USA - I wish Bush would resign. As a young American I registered to vote simply to vote against him. Something truly scares me about a man that cannot properly pronounce nuclear having control of the world's largest nuclear armament.
Annie, New York, NY - "I voted for Kerry, along with 75% of New Yorkers. He was the best man for the job, given the issues concerning us now. But then again, the issues concerning us New Yorkers and other major cities in the US do not seem to affect "Middle America."
Ryan O'Gara, Woodbridge, VA USA - I voted for Bush because of his moral clarity in confronting the challenges in our time. He is a sincere man who truly has the stomach to preserve our republic. History will demonstrate how farsighted he was as democracies take hold in the middle east and peace expands. History will also shame Europe for largely hiding behind their borders during this time when western democracies should be supporting the democratising of the Middle East.
Margaret, Minneapolis - USA - I voted for Mr. Bush by carefully examining the issues of each candidate and where they stood on these issues. I was very impressed with Mr. Bush on how he handled the 9/11 tragedy.
Bertha, Upstate NY - Bush is against abortion and that is all that matters to me.
Gonzalo Rodriguez, London, UK - I voted for Bush because I am a Bible-thumping right-wing gun lunatic who hates gays, isn't that right? That's not actually true, but it doesn't matter what the reality is, because that's how the European media will depict it. According to them, if I don't agree with pacifism and appeasement, I must be an inbred redneck idiot. So I suppose that's why I voted for Bush I am an idiot.
Lynda Roberts, Ruckersville, Virginia, USA - I voted against John Kerry because of his betrayal of his fellow servicemen who were in combat in Vietnam while he was publicly trashing them to the world here in the States.
David Schultz, Fenton, Iowa, USA - I voted for Bush because I am Pro-Life and against gay marriage. Bush stands more for these issues than does the Democratic Party.
Nathaniel, Houston, TX - I voted for Bush because he stands for many things I like. With regard to the things about Bush that I don't like, John Kerry did not present a clear and viable alternative policy. What else could I do?
Shante' Fosket, Chesapeake, VA - I voted for Bush in rejection of the corruption of the elite media. I voted for Bush in rejection of the vast corruption in the UN. I voted for Bush in rejection of fashionable politics with no substance. I voted for Bush because there is a time for diplomacy and he understands when that is.
Ben Rice, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania - Because he doesn't believe that our foreign policy needs a global test. Europe needs to get on board with us or get left behind!
John, St Paul, US - I knew I liked this guy right after 9/11 when he stood among Americans on a pile of rubble and stated "I can hear you, the world can hear you and soon the terrorists that knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon". Whether the Democrats want to admit it or not had there been a Democrat president in office at the time the most he would have done is throw a few harsh words at Osama and then would have forgot the whole thing happened.
Dewey Simpson, Erlanger, KY, USA - During a war a change in leadership may bring comfort to the enemy. Never bring your enemy comfort. While I am a Democrat domestically I would never want to bring comfort to our enemies. Also democrats are not as strong on moral issues as we should be. Maybe this will wake some of the leadership in our party.
Tom, Hudson, USA - About a month ago I read the 8,000 word article in the Sunday New York Times magazine that discussed John Kerry's views on terrorism and how he feels it should be handled. Frankly it scared me. It scared me that he wanted to handle it in the same manner as it has been handled in the 30 years prior to 9/11.
Howard, Chicago, USA - Gay marriage and abortion are a threat to our culture and security. I voted to preserve the morale values of this country.
Paul Young, Ivey, USA - I voted for President Bush mainly so he would be the one appointing a Supreme Court justice this term. Secondly for his moral stand. I hope and pray that President Bush will give serious and prolonged thought into bringing within his goals and/or policies some of the points and concerns that Senator Kerry has for our country.
John, Boston, Mass, USA - I voted for Bush because we need him to appoint judges who will finally allow some reasonable limits on abortion in this country. The system of no limits abortion that liberal judges imposed in the 1970s is one of the great evils that our generation must redress.
Rob, Madison, NJ, USA - I voted for President Bush because I refuse to be associated with a candidate or party that openly welcomes Michael Moore. I was actually leaning toward Kerry until Fahrenheit 911 was released. That heinous, hate filled movie and the fact that many in the Democratic Party and the Hollywood elite actually promoted it as the truth turned me.
John, Stockholm, Sweden - I moved to Europe nearly a year ago, and while I have tended to vote Republican most of my life, I was not particularly warm to President Bush. After being in Europe for a few months, however, my support for Bush was galvanized by seeing the completely unfair treatment he gets in the media here and hearing the constant criticism and contempt displayed for him by most Europeans.
Thomas Cunningham, St. Petersburg, FL, USA - I voted for President Bush because he provided relief to all taxpayers. Most importantly, however, Bush has liberated 50 million people in Afghanistan and Iraq, 75 percent of Bin Laden's henchmen have been captured or killed, while the remaining terrorists are running for their lives. Thank God for President Bush and America's greatest ally, Prime Minister Blair.
Glenn Meyer, Bridgeton, USA - I vote for politicians who come closest to my views
1. A strong national defence,
2. Smaller government,
3. More power and responsibility devolved to state and local governments, and
4. An end to carte blanche abortion.
While George Bush failed on smaller government, John Kerry fails on all of them.
Alex, Boston, MA - I think that it isn't enough that Kerry wasn't Bush. He had no solid plans except to make a better America. OK. How? He couldn't answer that. The more people heard him speak the more they realized that he had no clear plan.
Billy T, Marietta, Georgia, USA - I voted for George Bush because he is un-wavering with his course of actions and I believe has morals based in true faith of God. All through the election I saw John Kerry change his stance on almost every issue with no real plans to back up any of his promises.
Laura, USA - I voted for President Bush, because what others saw as stubbornness and arrogance... I saw as strength and perseverance. A strong nation needs a strong leader. Especially one who has beliefs and values which are based on compassion and a true desire for elevating the lives of others.
Paul, New York, USA - At the end of the day, Kerry simply wasn't a strong enough candidate and Edwards couldn't even deliver his own state. This election was a testament to how out of touch the Democratic Party has become to the American people. They assumed that all it took was a few speeches and sparkling smiles to win the presidency, but America saw through it.
Michael C, NY, USA - I was tired of people like Michael Moore trying to influence my decision by making movies that had only one purpose - tear down the president. I disagree with many of his policies and would not have voted for him except for the fact that I am sick and tired of these people telling me that I am not smart enough to figure out for myself what is right and what is wrong. The Republicans should thank Moore and give him a prominent table at the inauguration!
ndrew, Washington, DC - I voted for Bush for a number of reasons, but I have to confess one of them was because of all the lecturing and condescending opinions I read in the foreign press and heard from the "holier than thou" crowd in Europe. It just got on my nerves so much that people who only get a sliver of heavily bias coverage about America could hold such closed-minded opinions about our elections. Maybe four more years will give you a chance to open your minds to new ideas and consider that there are Americans who have a right to believe differently than you.
Patrick Burke, Swampscott, MA, USA - I voted for Mr Bush because Mr Kerry cannot be trusted. He has no moral values and I need a leader that stands by his actions and does not run when it gets tough. The world does not understand us here in America. I'm a highly educated, married person that owns guns, hunts, and is against gay marriage. I live and grew up in Massachusetts.
Shawnay Faircloth, Glasgow, Scotland - Europeans don't seem to understand American politics or our values. Americans including myself, voted for Bush because he was not afraid to show his faith in God nor does he back down from his word. He's a strong leader that can defend the US interests no matter the peer pressure from the world. Kerry is too liberal in his values and too cosy with the French.