political catching-up

[anotheranon]

I know I haven't posted anything overtly politically contemplative lately, but this is because I've not been paying as close attention. I've not been watching the debates, mostly because with all the rules involved, I question just how spontaneous the "debating" really is. Also, I think it's highly unlikely at this point that I'm going to change my mind about who to vote for :P (Don't worry - I still plan to watch the Jon Stewart reviews of the debates!)

I talked to my Mom last night, and that the discussion moved to politics is almost a given. Both she and my grandmother are on fire against Bush & Co., and my grandmother even fumed about moving to Canada (she won't, of course, but the fact that an 80+ year old woman who has happily lived in the same ~10 square miles for the past 30 years says something!). Both agree that the upcoming election is the most crucial of their lives, and as both of them have seen far, far more presidential elections than I have, I'm inclined to take them seriously.

They aren't the only ones, I suspect - the sheer number of books out about Bush and his administration are more than I've ever seen about a sitting president, or even a former/historical one. People are interested, people are concerned.

So what I wonder from my isolated liberal vantage point is - who the blazes is going to vote for this yo-yo in November's election? I see the polls, I hear all the stories about people who want to vote for a president they can "have a beer with" (WTF? I want a president who is terrifyingly brilliant and soul-burningly boring, so s/he has nothing better to do than run the country obnoxiously well), but I don't actually know these people.

I do know a couple of very mercenary types who will vote for Dubya under some percieved notion that they'll benefit from his tax cuts, but that's about it. Still, the overwhelming impression I get is that the Kerry election is not a slam dunk. Can someone offer me some insight here?

Comments

[geekchick]

who the blazes is going to vote for this yo-yo in November's election?

People who think that America's turning into a "godless nation" and want a stronger religious presence in government. People who think that he's doing a fine job with Iraq, and that there really was a connection between Saddam and al Qaeda. People who think that his tenacity in sticking to a decision is a good thing. (And I know some of these latter folks, actually.) I can think of at least one person who seems likely to vote for Bush because he despises John Edwards for some reason. (I still haven't quite figured out how Edwards is a greater evil than Cheney, but I suppose there are those who can say the same in reverse.)

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

I'd love real statistics on those voters who really, truly believe that the U.S. is a "godless nation" and are basing their vote solely on religious values. I've always percieved the extreme Christian right to be vocal, organized, but definitely a minority.