I assume that each of the major parties has hard-core supporters who will always vote for the parties' candidate; I'd guess that each party can count on 25%-30% of all voters. The rest of the voters are up for grabs.

I've been trying to figure out why - given all the news about the Bush Administration's misdeeds on the economy and the war - that most of those 'up for grabs' voters would want to dump a bad administration. However, even those voters are split evenly. How can that be?

The following shows how influential the rabid right news media can be.

A new study by the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) shows that supporters of President Bush hold wildly inaccurate views about the world. For example, "a large majority [72 percent] of Bush supporters believe that before the war Iraq had weapons of mass destruction."[1] Most Bush supporters [57 percent] also believe that the recently released report by Charles Duelfer, the administration's hand-picked weapons inspector, concluded Iraq either had WMD or a major program for developing them.[2] In fact, the report concluded "Saddam Hussein did not produce or possess any weapons of mass destruction for more than a decade before the U.S.-led invasion" and the U.N. inspection regime had "curbed his ability to build or develop weapons."[3]

According to the study, 75 percent Bush supporters also believe "Iraq was providing substantial support to al Qaeda."[4] Most Bush supporters [55 percent] believe that was the conclusion of the 9/11 commission.[5] In fact, the 9/11 commission concluded there was no "collaborative relationship" between al-Qaeda and Iraq.[6]

Bush supporters also hold inaccurate views about world public opinion of the war in Iraq and a range of Bush's foreign policy positions.[7]

Sources:

1. "The Separate Realities of Bush and Kerry Supporters," Program on International Policy Attitudes, 10/21/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1918585&l=64454.
2. Ibid, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1918585&l=64454.
3. "Iraq's Illicit Weapons Gone Since Early '90s, CIA Says," Los Angeles Times, 10/07/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1918585&l=64455.
4. "The Separate Realities of Bush and Kerry Supporters," Program on International Policy Attitudes, 10/21/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1918585&l=64454.
5. Ibid, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1918585&l=64454.
6. "Al Qaeda-Hussein Link Is Dismissed," Washington Post, 6/17/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1918585&l=64456.
7. "The Separate Realities of Bush and Kerry Supporters," Program on International Policy Attitudes, 10/21/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1918585&l=64454.

Waist Deep in the Big Muddy

and the damn fool said to go on....

Truth or Consequences

Bush Relatives for Kerry (No, REALLY)

"Bush Relatives for Kerry" grew out of a series of conversations that took place between a group of people that have two things in common: they are all related to George Walker Bush, and they are all voting for John Kerry. As the election approaches, we feel it is our responsibility to speak out about why we are voting for John Kerry, and to do our small part to help America heal from the sickness it has suffered since George Bush was appointed President in 2000. We invite you to read our stories, and please, don't vote for our cousin!

Rogue Nations Prefer Bush

Though Iran generally does not publicly wade into U.S. presidential politics, it has a history of preferring Republicans over Democrats, who tend to press human rights issues.

Hasan Rowhani, head of the Supreme National Security Council, Iran's top security decision-making body, spoke out on the upcoming US elections.

"We do not desire to see Democrats take over," Rowhani said when asked if Iran was supporting Kerry against Bush."

So let's see: we have unproven rightwingnuttery claiming that terrorists prefer Kerry, and we have it from the Axis of Evil that Bush is better for the REAL Bad Guys (the ones who DO have WMDs and who DO work with terrorists).

Source: Yahoo News

Bush Misleads On Tax Cuts

At Thursday's debate President Bush said most of his tax cuts "went to low- and middle-income Americans."[1] That statement is flatly false.

An analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that, in 2004, the top 20 percent of earners received 69.8% of the tax cuts enacted by President Bush.[2] While the middle 20 percent of earners received an average tax cut of $647, the top 20 percent received an average tax cut of $5,055.[3] As a result, those in the middle class are paying a greater share of the federal taxes today than they were four years ago.[4]

Sources:

1. "Transcript of Debate Between Bush and Kerry, With Domestic Policy the Topic," New York Times, 10/13/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1918585&l=62971.
2. "Tax Returns: A Comprehensive Assessment of the Bush Administration Tax Cuts," Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 04/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1918585&l=62972.
3. Ibid, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1918585&l=62972.
4. "Tax Cuts Go Mostly to the Rich," OMB Watch, 2004, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1918585&l=62973.