Bush released a new television ad titled "Whatever it takes." I see this as sadly appropriate to this election year. Whatever it takes to get elected, that is what the candidates will do or say. The Bush campaign will capitalize on smear campaigns about Kerry's record, and distort it themselves, not to mention play on fears of terrorism.
Kerry meanwhile has lowered himself to their level by capitalizing on fears over Social Security and a military draft.
While driving along 148th in Redmond, I have twice seen evidence that some voters themselves have forsaken civil democratic action for a "whatever it takes" mentality.
Last week, I saw a woman at a red light tearing up Kerry/Edwards signs along the road and tossing them into her car.
Then, this morning as I drove along, I saw that all of the Kerry/Edwards signs for blocks had been ripped and shredded.
I'm sure there are Bush signs that have suffered the same fate in less conservative neighborhoods.
Meanwhile, both campaigns are gearing up already to dispute votes, fight recall battles, and have operatives at strategic voting locations (i.e. locations where the opposition has a high voter base) to try and spot any opportunity to deny people their right to vote, as well as report instances where this is happening at locations they favor.
And all of this doesn't even touch on what will happen if yet again the person with the most popular votes doesn't win, or if the electoral college is tied. We are really straining the ideas of peaceful, civil democratic transitions of power, of a government of, by and for the people, and of balanced and checked government power to the limits in this partisan struggle for power at any cost.
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