Socialists win in Spain
It appears that the Socialists have won in Spanish elections, with nearly 40 seats going from Prime Minister Aznar's Popular party to the Socialists, giving the latter the majority of seats. Like most Americans, I wasn't paying much attention to the elections there prior to the bombing, which looks more and more likely to be the work of a group or groups with ties to al Qaeda.
Now I am paying attention, though. From what little I did know in the run-up to today's vote, it seemed as though the conservatives were coasting to a victory, albeit a close one. But a combination of voter's anger over the government's rush to blame ETA for the bombings and their anger at finding themselves the target of Islamic fundamentalists because of Aznar's alliance with the U.S. in Iraq appears to have turned the tide, with an extremely high turn-out at the polls.
It's hard to say how U.S. voters would respond to a deadly attack days before the election in November. Or, more to the point, how would the eight percent, or whatever it is, of undecided likely voters will react.
But as Red Square burns and another deadly attack in Israel, the news is beyond the control of the Democrats and Republicans. For that reason, it is vital that Kerry begin to make clear his defense qualifications. As Josh Marshall writes, Bush can't win on the economy -- at least not at the moment and the clock is running out on a positive swing -- but he can convince enough voters that he's more likely to protect them. Yes, despite all evidence to the contrary.
Because, we're going to get eight months of this stupid nonsense.
"Now I must admit, as nasty and cynical as my childish id can be at times, it never would have occured to me to rig up a push poll designed to make the opposing nominee look like an Al Qaeda fusion candidate. Guess that's why I'm not gainfully employed in the world of big-time politics.
"It's probably the kind of thing that only a couple of redneck GOP patronage hacks could dream up. And lo and behold, when we take a peak in the cage over at Andres McKenna Research, that's what we find..."
Billmon thoughtfully provides the email addresses for the two scholars behind the clever polling question. Go ahead, you know what to do.
Now I am paying attention, though. From what little I did know in the run-up to today's vote, it seemed as though the conservatives were coasting to a victory, albeit a close one. But a combination of voter's anger over the government's rush to blame ETA for the bombings and their anger at finding themselves the target of Islamic fundamentalists because of Aznar's alliance with the U.S. in Iraq appears to have turned the tide, with an extremely high turn-out at the polls.
It's hard to say how U.S. voters would respond to a deadly attack days before the election in November. Or, more to the point, how would the eight percent, or whatever it is, of undecided likely voters will react.
But as Red Square burns and another deadly attack in Israel, the news is beyond the control of the Democrats and Republicans. For that reason, it is vital that Kerry begin to make clear his defense qualifications. As Josh Marshall writes, Bush can't win on the economy -- at least not at the moment and the clock is running out on a positive swing -- but he can convince enough voters that he's more likely to protect them. Yes, despite all evidence to the contrary.
Because, we're going to get eight months of this stupid nonsense.
"Now I must admit, as nasty and cynical as my childish id can be at times, it never would have occured to me to rig up a push poll designed to make the opposing nominee look like an Al Qaeda fusion candidate. Guess that's why I'm not gainfully employed in the world of big-time politics.
"It's probably the kind of thing that only a couple of redneck GOP patronage hacks could dream up. And lo and behold, when we take a peak in the cage over at Andres McKenna Research, that's what we find..."
Billmon thoughtfully provides the email addresses for the two scholars behind the clever polling question. Go ahead, you know what to do.
posted by John at 6:26 PM
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