the case for kerry

this was the lead comment in the guardian on saturday - the case for kerry. strong stuff eh?! a couple of quotes...

plenty of americans believe it is none of our busines whom they elect as their leader on tuesday. but there are two underlying reasons why any presidential election matters to the rest of the world. the first concerns america's power. there is no other nation in the history of the planet whose strength and actions more directly affect the whole human race than the united states...

....to adapt the words of the talleyrand, the bush presidency has been not merely a crime but a mistake. mr bush has proved a terrifying failure in the world's most powerful office. he has made the world more angry, more dangerous, and more divided - not less. this above all is why it matters to us, as it should to all americans, that john kerry is elected on tuesday. a safer world requires not just the example of american power but the power of american example. mr bush has done more to destroy america's good name in the world than any president in memory. mr kerry provides an opportunity to begin to repair the damage. it is as simple - and as important - as that.

Comments

[bobbie]

i agree wholeheartedly jonny. my swingstate vote will be against the current president for these very reasons. of all people the church should understand the global implications of another 4 years of gwb, instead they are so blind to the possibility of power they just can't even imagine he doesn't have their best interests at heart.

[Steve K.]

I agree that the president of the United States has incredible power in the course of human events, and my vote is certainly cast with a global perspective. But I'm sorry, I have no confidence that a Kerry presidency would be any "better" for the world than Bush. Put Kerry in the same situation Bush was in on 9/11 and Kerry would've been forced to take the same action Bush took -- go after Al Qaeda, remove the Taliban from power in Afghanistan. The only difference? No Iraq war. Would the world be that much "less" pissed off at Kerry? I doubt it. Instead they'd be bitching and complaining about Afghanistan right now. The world hates America for a lot of reasons, and putting Kerry into the White House wouldn't change a damn thing.

[Andii]

Just thought you might be interested in a short series of postings I have made on this though it'll be too late to be more of academic interest -particularly on the first link:
http://nouslife.blogspot.com/2004/10/my-fellow-non-americans.html
http://nouslife.blogspot.com/2004/10/bush-supporters-strange-reality-folie.html
http://nouslife.blogspot.com/2004/10/disenfranchised-again.html
http://nouslife.blogspot.com/2004/10/bushcheney-04-because-you-dont-change.html
http://nouslife.blogspot.com/2004/10/bush-wins-boost-from-terror-tape.html

With apologies for 'sapmming' you with links but given the above I thinkm that there may be some good crossover and a couple of chuckles.

[ray]

i would like for all of you to read the following and comment: The Liberal Case for Bush
http://www.techcentralstation.com/100704B.html

I would also ask all of you to pray for the outcome of this election and, whatever the outcome is that you will graciously accept it and realize that it is God who makes all things good, that He can make wonderful things come from even the most chaotic of situations, and that He works in ways that we may not understand and may be working to accomplish great things in people you might not expect.
Brian McLaren wrote speaking as an American about his president some guidelines that i believe would be appropriate for viewing leaders of other lands, especially when they are children of God (though sometimes misguided, like all the rest of us), ". . . we should not harshly criticize our country and our president. Part of this is simply a matter of “doing unto others.” As a pastor, I am routinely criticized by people who are certain they know more than I do. Meanwhile, I am often privy to dozens of facts and confidences of which they are unaware, and if they knew and saw what I do, they wouldn’t be so critical. I simply must endure their criticism (some of which is harsh and mean-spirited). Their criticism doesn’t make my job any easier, nor does it increase the likelihood that I’ll do better in the future – rather, the reverse. So harsh criticism is not good for anyone. That’s why I believe that harsh criticism of our leaders can be ultimately counterproductive, even if our leaders are deeply and dangerously wrong. So, I am against criticizing our president with harshness, insult, or arrogance. However, that cannot mean we aren’t allowed to raise questions, express concerns, or even voice strong disagreement – as long as we do so respectfully and with appropriate humility, understanding, and charity." http://www.anewkindofchristian.com/archives/000157.html