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Nov. 4, 2004 Nothing bothers me more than ideologues when they have the upper hand. I accept that the candidate I supported, John Kerry, has lost the Presidential Election to President George W. Bush. I do not doubt the validity of Bush’s 51 – 49% popular vote margin and wins in Ohio and Iowa. The re-election of Bush was small popularly, but decisive in the Electoral College. If I can be mature about John Kerry’s loss, why can Republicans not be mature about John Kerry’s victory? I have had the fact that John Kerry lost thrown in my face for two days now in a relentless attempt to make me apologize for supporting him. I do not apologize. It is the same principle with Governor Joseph Kernan, who lost to Mitch Daniels on Tuesday. I accept that Daniels won, and am willing to give him a fair attempt at the Governorship before I criticize. But I do not apologize. No, sir. No, ma’am. Taunting the Democrats seems to be a new hobby for the Republicans, at least all of those I have met. They feel the need to define their 51% as a strong mandate; their slim electoral victory equitable to Nixon and Reagan’s second term sweeps. Republicans saw no problem in calling my house to criticize me, harass me, and taunt me for working for Governor Kernan’s campaign, even as I was writing an e-mail congratulating Daniels on his victory. It shows the maturity gap. Republicans have a right to be proud that their man won by a decent margin. They claim, with validity, that Bush received the most votes for President in history. It is also true; however, that Bush received the most votes against any President in history. Pride in the victory of your candidate is acceptable. Gloating is childish. Gloating, though, is precisely what is being done. John Kerry did not attempt to drag out the election. He waited a reasonable amount of time, until the morning after the election, after any complaints could come to light, to concede. He conceded without bitter words or disagreements. So did I, and many other Democrats. Republicans used this chance to slam on the Democratic Party, belittle us, call us losers, say that we should move back to France, and make insulting, lewd and childish comments. I congratulate President Bush on winning his second term in office. It is doubtless a great achievement for him, predicted about as much as the Red Sox victory at the World Series this year. I rallied against the President during the election; everyone should be aware of that by now. That does not mean that I continue to rally against him after the election is over. As with Governor-elect Daniels, I will offer Bush a fair shot at his second term. I will applaud him when he does things worth doing, and chide him when he does not. If only the Republicans I see so much of now would have the same candor and decency in allowing Democrats to accept defeat and move on with politics and commentary. The campaign is over – let’s leave the campaign rhetoric behind. ------------ About the author: Max Burns is a 17-year-old Democrat with moderate, centrist ideals. He blames John Kerry's 2004 loss on John Kerry, and is authoring a pamphlet on how to refine the Democratic Party for Victory in 2008 and beyond. For more information, check out The New Democrat. Read the fantasy-fiction novel "Alcardia". Email: DeMBurns@gmail.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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