Part XL
The Choice 2004
The polls had significantly tightened since the summer, and through October both men jostled for first place. They campaigned in battleground states across the country on domestic issues like the President's tax plan, or Edwards's proposal to raise the minimum wage. President Bush in Iowa praised his tax cuts
"Overall, 94 million Americans will have a lower tax bill next year, including 70 million women and 28 million families with children," He said to the crowd in Des Moines.
“We need to keep the tax relief we enacted for investors and small businesses” While Edwards in New Hampshire pressed the need to increase the minimum wage,
“Millions of Americans wake up every day worried about surviving, a move to $7.25 would lift them out of the working poor and into the middle class”.
The candidates battled over more intricate issues like stem cell research and gun rights. When it came to stem cell research there was a clear divide between the candidates, Bush had severely restricted the federal research into stem cells, appealing to core conservative voters who saw the research as an immoral practice. Scientists believe that the cells could yield significant scientific results in curing diseases and his political opponents said his administration was ignoring the science on the issue. Edwards vowed to broaden the practice
“There is so much work to be done, work that is being banned by the White House”.
Gun rights proved another issue separating the candidates, Republicans accused Edwards of hiding his anti-gun past saying that he had consistently voted for stronger regulation on gun ownership. Edwards contended he only wanted to keep guns outside of the hands of criminals and children saying that the
“Second Amendment right isn’t without limits” and supported a renewal of the Federal Assault weapons ban. Republicans took the opportunity to declare Edwards a
“disingenuous liberal” and according to National Rifle Association President, Wayne LaPierre
“He has revealed he's a faux southerner on the wrong side of the issue”. As for Bush he also fell into hot water with the gun lobby after initially offering his support to the assault weapons ban’s renewal, he came under intense lobbying from conservatives to block the Democratic-controlled congress and the NRA also took a shot at the President they usually supported
''This is a president who has been so good on the Second Amendment that it's just unbelievable to gun owners that he would really sign the ban,'' And many pundits thought it could hurt Bush’s credentials with conservatives in key states. Democrats said that this was a test of the President's compassion in his ‘compassionate conservative’ ideology. The administration pushed for more time to study the issue to investigate the ban's effectiveness essentially allowing the bill to lapse in the meantime. A Republican filibuster and a threatened veto effectively killed the renewal. Democrats harshly criticised the President's decision
“If the Republicans want to be the party of assault weapons when the American people believe that they are the weapons of drive-by shooters and grievance killers, let them be that party” according to Senator Dianne Feinstein D-CA.
October 5th saw two ideologically distant figures sit down for a debate. The vice-presidential candidates, sitting VP Dick Cheney the pre-eminent figure in the administration renowned for his hawkish approach and grim demeanour and Senator John Kerry the Vietnam war veteran and prominent critic of the Bush administration's approach to foreign policy. Though the debate was intended to focus on domestic issues, foreign policy became a hot-button issue between the two.
On the same day protests organised by the labor union the AFL-CIO took place at Bush-Cheney campaign offices across the country, protesting the Presidents policies, the protesters said they were there to hand out fliers and picket outside the offices however the scenes turned divisive as police were called, people were jostled and accusations were fired
"These are brownshirt tactics," said a Republican staffer
"If you can't win by any other method than intimidating little old ladies making phone calls, that's a sad day in politics."
A blow to the President's campaign came when the Log Cabin Republicans, the gay and lesbian Republican organisation declined to endorse President Bush. Angry over the administration's increasingly conservative agenda and its push to constitutionally ban same-sex marriage
“They've decided to use gay families as wedge issues across America in swing states -- that is truly outrageous” said the organisation's head
“we are insulted by the administration's discriminatory amendments”. The Democratic candidates capitalized by drawing attention to Vice presidents Dick Cheneys lesbian daughter, Edwards said that
“All Americans deserve love and respect and I am sure that the Vice President loves both of his children and there are millions like him who just want their children to be happy”, some others were less guarded, Edwards wife Elizabeth said it indicated that the Cheneys held
“a certain degree of shame with respect to her daughter's sexual preferences," This outraged Republicans who accused the Democrats of using Cheneys families as political props and Cheney hit out
"You saw a man who will say and do anything to get elected," Cheney said, drawing boos from a crowd in Florida
"And I am not speaking just as a father here, though I am a pretty angry father. But I'm also speaking as a citizen."
The main candidates came for another Presidential debate in Missouri on the 8th of October for a forum-style debate that covered a number of contentious issues including Tax, Abortion and Healthcare
The day after the debate the President went live for an address to the American people in conjunction with similar addresses in Moscow and London where the President announced that in conjunction with allies (including Russia and Great Britain) a series of military strikes would begin in Afghanistan. In response to the last month's terror attacks in Russia.
The speech followed the presentation of articles condemning the attacks and the Taliban government to the United Nations security council alleging that they had failed to live up to anti-terrorism resolutions by providing safe haven to known terrorists, allowing them to operate training camps and have access to weaponry. It wasn’t clear to what lengths President Putin would go on what he called the ‘campaign against terror’ but in his own speech he also outlined the threat of ‘international terror’ that Chechen militants were being trained and supplied from Afghanistan which had been turned into a ‘lair of terrorists’ and that the leadership of Afghanistan had failed to comply with his 72-hour request to turn over the men he said financed Russia’s enemies from so-called ‘terrorist enclaves’.
View attachment 797982
(Left to Right) President Bush announces the beginning of the Afghanistan bombing campaign, US Jets over Afghan mountains, Presidents Bush and Putin meet in Moscow
Russian, American and British militaries working in conjunction for the first time since World War II in an operation dubbed ‘Red, White and Blue’ was a bombing campaign across all of Taliban-held Afghanistan designed to severely weaken the Taliban’s grip in the country, with strikes primarily carried out by Russians from central Asia and the Ural and Siberian Russian bases, the British utilized the royal navy and the United States sent both the navy and land-based bombers. Additionally, the US moved in a carrier the USS John F Kennedy to participate in future strike operations.
The vastness of the operation led to questions about the coalition's end goals, while all its members harshly criticised the Taliban government it wasn’t clear if the coalition planned to send ground forces to bring about their overthrow. Russia had already committed more forces to pacify Chechnya and no coalition member had planned for such an intervention (The Pentagon hadn’t even drafted plans for such an undertaking.) The coalition strategized behind the scenes as the initial massive bombardment dwindled to surgical strikes but behind-the-scenes negotiations were focused on how best to force the regime out of power …
The two candidates came together for the third and final Presidential debate on October 13th. Both candidates took the opportunity to hammer on the main theme of their respective campaigns, the state of the economy and national security.
As the election continued through October, several surprises were unveiled. Both campaigns fought over airtime to show advertising and significant controversy arose when television network Sinclair News aired a documentary alleging that Edwards had unduly profited from his time as a lawyer and cared more about his own enrichment than justice, this controversy reared at the same time as controversial advertisements attacked VP candidate Kerry for his anti-Vietnam war activism and accused him of lying about his war service saying that he had ‘betrayed’ soldiers.
Edwards hit back harshly on the campaign trail accusing the President of
‘incompetent leadership’ to an enthusiastic crowd in Columbus where his campaign hammered on getting out the youth vote
“The cost of tuition is going through the roof .. Give us 4 years in office and we'll give you 4 years of college” and later spoke on the economy
“We are at ground zero for Bush’s economic disaster, 150,000 jobs lost in Ohio, unlike his Our America will never throw away your future, hope is on the way!”
In the remaining weeks fears over the election’s integrity began to flare up, as people feared an outcome similar to the one in 2000. Allegations of faulty voter registration drives, claims of unreliable electronic voting machines and voter intimidation from across the country. But the final week of campaigning left one final explosive revelation, on October 28th, 3 days before election day, the International Atomic Energy Association released a report detailing that the Islamic Republic of Iran was violating the Non-proliferation treaty by covertly acquiring, processing and constructing nuclear facilities and materials.
"It is clear that Iran has failed in a number of instances over an extended period of time to meet its obligations under its Safeguards Agreement with respect to the reporting of nuclear material and its processing and use, as well as the declaration of facilities where such material has been processed and stored." The incident made news in the United States where both campaigns used the issue, Bush said he had the clear credibility to ensure Iran did not acquire nuclear weapons
“We will make it clear that Iran must not construct a nuclear weapon, there is almost universal agreement here” While Edwards accused the administration of being unable to solve the issue
“This President has miscalculated on Iran, standing by while [Iran] advances its nuclear weapons programme … only a new administration can restore our moral authority to solve this issue”.
National polls showed a dead heat and both candidates targeted swing states that were likely to determine the election outcome. Mr Edwards and President Bush both swung through the Midwest where there were pivotal states for both campaigns making stops in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin and Iowa, while the running mates Cheney and Kerry travelled to North Carolina (Edwards's home state which some pollsters labelled a tossup) and New Hampshire respectively. The President told rallies that John Edwards
has “no success in government, he’s got nothing done in the Senate” Whereas Edwards told his crowds that
“This President has no economic credibility, he can’t help working Americans, only his friends from Enron”.
There were also the controversial Green party candidates. Since the Green party nominated two men Ralph Nader and David Cobb for President each man had to jostle and curry favour with individual state parties to run in each state. Where Cobb wanted the party to campaign in safe states Texas, California, and New York to avoid the accusation that the party swung the election to Bush, Nader tried to gain the nomination in swing states, like Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Ohio and Florida where analysts again feared the election would be extremely close, however, the state parties largely defied Nader and neglected to put either of the men on the ballot in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, or North Carolina, instead a frustrated Nader launched a write-in campaign.
“This is an anti-democratic decision by the party, depriving the voters the chance to vote for a candidate they believe in.”
The Presidential election played the main stage while the country also determined hundreds of other elections for governors’ mansions, senate offices and house seats across the country as well as other decisions including nearly a dozen states deciding whether to ban same-sex marriage or not.
View attachment 797979
(Left to Right) Green party candidate Ralph Nader speaks to media, 3rd Presidential debate, long lines to vote in Florida
As November 3rd arrived long lines outside polling stations led analysts to predict a tight race with higher turnout than the last three elections, prompting fears that delays could lead to long waits for the votes to be fully counted. Both teams had already arranged lawyers in case of a legal fight for votes, and despite complaints of irregularities, no major problems were reported at polling stations across the country. Reports of 5-hour waits in some urban areas led voters to bring deck chairs with them. Pulling up to a station in Crawford Texas, President Bush spoke before casting his
vote "I've given it my all," he told reporters when he re-emerged with his wife Laura.
"Who do you trust? I trust the judgment of the American people." He proceeded to Tallahassee, Florida for a final rally where he said he was confident of victory. John Edwards and his wife voted in Raleigh, North Carolina telling reporters
“Whatever the outcome, we are going to have to bring this country together” But also said he was confident that he would win his home state “
We’re going to beat Bush right here!”. And shortly after, both men gathered at their campaign headquarters to watch the results come in.
Election Day
By the time the polls started closing both sides were anxious with various exit polls predicting wins for both sides. The first real results unravelled little by little, as both camps notched up expected wins Bush winning Indiana, Kentucky and Georgia, with Edwards carrying Vermont leaving the vote 35-3.
All media outlets were playing it safe unwilling to call states early to avoid another debacle. Both camps were optimistic early in the night as Bush garnered a strong lead in Florida but was behind in North Carolina. Results soon showed that the rest of the south was for the President's taking, as West Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama and Oklahoma were called for him, while reliable Democratic states Illinois, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Washington D.C. came in for Edwards, which gave Democrats anxiousness as they hoped Edwards southern background would make the region more competitive. Putting the vote at 66-53.
Pundits wavered as both Edwards and Bush supporters became more and more cautious as another batch of solid republican and democratic states came in, Bush picking up more of the south and plains, including Virginia, South Carolina, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota and Wyoming, with Edwards bringing in more of the northeast with New York and Rhode Island. 141-88.
The first major win for either campaign occurred when the state of Pennsylvania went for Senator Edwards, a necessity for an Edwards victory the President had seen an uptick in the last weeks and made dozens of visits to the state. Pennsylvania came alongside necessary wins in Illinois and an early call for California. While the President sealed off more south and great plain states, with Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Utah and Montana. 185 -181.
But the Bush campaign gained something to cheer about when he finished sealing up the south with North Carolina, where he overcame the early returns disappointing Edwards, as well as Idaho and Arizona. Those cheers were echoed by a victory in Colorado defying recent projections that it was leaning toward Edwards as well as defeating an initiative to assign its votes more proportionally insuring that the Bush-Cheney 04 team kept all the votes. But the Edwards camp was pleased to learn that all of Maine would be his despite the President's strong showing. 219-189.
Major calls came through as the last of the ‘safe states’, were called, Edwards picked up Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, and Minnesota, plus a good result for the must-win Michigan, Republicans hoping for an early night were left disappointed as hopes that ballot measures to ban same-sex marriage could lead to some victories in the west were snuffed out. But that disappointment vanished when the major networks one by one called, Alaska, New Hampshire, and crucial Florida for the President. Florida had decided the nation in the last election and New Hampshire was his first win in a state he had not carried in 2000, leaving Bush only one state from victory, Ohio. 253-238.
Both camps turned quiet, it was getting later and later but still, no state was called, Bush was ahead in the count in Nevada, New Mexico and Ohio and the feeling was jubilant in Crawford, but all networks remained stalled for predictions. The night of Tuesday turned to the morning of Wednesday and both camps waited with bated breath, at last CNN made a call, Wisconsin was for Edwards, but Ohio was still too close to call. 253-248.
Nationally the picture was becoming clear it looked like Edwards was going to win the popular vote and the Democrats were going to narrowly expand their majority in the House and likely keep their Senate majority. Finally, at 1:30 in the morning, the pundits reported that Edwards had overtaken Bush in Ohio and was extending his lead, finally putting fire through the veins of both campaigns CBS made the decision that Ohio had gone for Edwards. It was controversial, other networks and commenters were quiet and angry calls from the Bush campaign filled the studios protesting that they still had votes to be counted in the state, and they intended to contest the decision if they could. But regardless it looked like the news had hit the Edwards campaign that they were close to victory, but with no clear end in sight the candidates came out to speak.
“It has been a long night, this is a victory four years in the making, and looking at the way things are going we are expecting some great news to come, we are proud of everyone out there who has stood with us, we can assure you your votes will be counted” It was a curious mix of a victory speech and an intent to fight on but it was clear that the Edwards team was confident.
All eyes turned to Crawford as the Bush team was expected to make a response, they unfurled making a statement along similar lines to Edwards “This has been a long night, a great night, I want to thank the thousands of our supporters across our country. I want to thank you for your hugs on the rope lines. The voters have turned out in record numbers, and we want to make sure we know what they’ve said. We are always grateful for you; God bless you and good night”
Other networks slowly called Ohio for Edwards putting him a single state from victory and the electoral college at 268-253 but already the legal teams were unfurling their briefcases to litigate “There have been reports of problems with machines, poor regulations we will be looking into that” said Michael Connell chief of the President’s re-election in the state. But outside the Edwards teams were staring intently at the votes in the outstanding states Iowa and New Mexico were practically neck and neck (With Edwards ahead in Iowa but behind in New Mexico) while in Nevada a hundred thousand absentee ballots hadn’t even been opened yet. Both teams were bullish, as the White House “Put the states in our column” While the Edwards/Kerry team said that they were “confident of a positive outcome” Almost everyone went to sleep unsure who the next President would be. Jon Stewart on the satirical Daily Show summed it up “Oh my God this is the closest election we’ve seen in the United States in almost 4 years.”
View attachment 797984
(Top) New York Times following inconclusive results
(Left to Right) Democratic and Republican candidates speak following election night
After a day of confusion, clenched teeth and crossed fingers the news finally came through on Thursday that Iowa would be awarding its 7 electoral votes to Edwards, having teetered back and forth between the candidates with all the absentee votes counted Edwards clinched a narrow lead, the decision meant that according to some news outlets Edwards had crossed the threshold and gained the hallowed 270 electoral votes he needed.
The news sparked reactions from the parties, and it was clear from the White House that a concession was not on its way soon, as lawsuits were filed for the Ohio recount. Democrats insisted that Bush concede “In 2000 our country suffered terribly, The White House should not put the country through this again and do the honourably thing” said a group of Democratic Senators. Andrew Card the White House Chief of Staff responded, “We are convinced that the President has a viable path for re-election, and we will be exploring every option”. Edwards made another conference “We would again like to thank every voter in America for strengthening this country and will do everything to make sure your votes and your voices will not be silenced” At the same time in Ohio, the secretary of State Ken Blackwell (Republican) announced that due to the number of irregularities a recount would be going forward.
View attachment 797985
(Left to Right) Pro-Edwards protesters, Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, Pro-Bush protesters
The smell of 2000 stank everywhere, and pundits rolled their eyes “Is this how elections are gonna be from now on” Wolf Blitzer said on CNN, some accused the White House of reaching, Edwards's margin was nearly 75,000 votes. It took months of infighting as the Edwards and Bush lawyers jostled over the technicalities of the recount and many Democrats pressed for the Supreme Court to step in and end the process as it had done in 2004. The biggest scare for Edwards occurred when the discovery of a computer error gave an additional 3,000 votes to Bush and more Republicans cried foul “This election was clearly flawed” said Blackwell and in scenes reminiscent of 2000, loyal Bush and Edwards supporters packed recount halls to ‘monitor’ the process after Blackwell barred international observers due to his controversial interpretation of Ohio Law.
After months Blackwell announced on the 28th of December that after the completion of the recount “This election was flawed and filled with glitches but after a thorough review we have found it isn’t enough to alter the result” His certification finalised the state of Ohio and the election for Edwards since both Iowa, New Mexico and Nevada had already completed their certification. The White House made a call, and shortly after gave a press conference “The people went to the polls, and they cast their vote for a new direction, I spoke with President-Elect Edwards I congratulated him on running a strong campaign and I look forward to working with him to ensure a smooth transition.”. Soon afterwards Edwards spoke saying he looked forward to “Bringing the country together, fighting for all Americans, even those who didn’t support me ... I am proud to stand up for all of you, and hope to bring everyone with me, thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America.”
[!] Hello everyone
, here it is, obviously a big change was unsure for a while where this would go the election was always going to be a toss-up, but I ultimately decided that Bush had made too many mistakes with too few victories, despite a better economy and a bounce in the polls he suffers the same fate as his father, it's up you to decide if he was a good President or not. Other than that got some interesting events and ideas to write about, the Philippines (I haven't forgotten), Ukraine, and more in-depth on Chechnya and Afghanistan of course. I'll probably touch up my older parts to fix some errors (no retcons though). Other than that, have a good one.
