Lots of different opinions here I am sure, but I know who it is in my mind & let me tell you something, I'm voting for the other guy.

There is little doubt that Bush is that polarizing figure.  I personally expect a rise in non-Islamic European and Slavic terror in the near future, as left wing groups are pushed furhter by more Admin blunders.

Remember that the harsher the crackdown, the more it plays into the hands of the politically violent.  Getting that administration over reaction is the whole point of most terror groups, as it feeds them more disenfranchies or mistreated people who might have been innocent originally, but get treated as terrorists.

Kerry saw that in action in Viet Nam.  took part to his chagrin in some of that pacification that drove people further into the hands of the VC, and allowed a basically foreign intervention (Noth to South) to be viewed as liberators, while we, thinking we were liberators, were viewed as a colonial power.

Bush's experience with VietNam is purely from books and personal interactions with an officer class who did not understand the real dynamics on the ground. They reflect a bitterness like German officers after WWI who did not comprehend why they lost, when their formations were in place to the political end. He comes from a party that thought that backing Galtieri, Pinochet, Somoza,Franco and other Authoritarians was the way to stop communists.  

With Bush, the Terror war will get a lot worse before it gets better, the Iraq War will get worse before it gets better, and the Afghanistan War will get worse before it gets better.  With Kerry, we may be able to accomplish the goals through cooperation and concensus that fit each situation specifically.

Until Bush discovers a carrot other than cash, he will not stop terror.  Not that he is really trying, as the fear he can get from its threat is what gives him any mandate at all.

Of course Al Queda would prefer to see Bush  get re-elected.  His missteps have proven to be the best recruiter they ever had.

The terrorists don't really care who is in the White House, if they want to hurt us I don't think they are going to stop and think about who might or might not nuke the Mid East.  And by the way, I'm sure that many of the terrorists are laughing at us, Saudi nationals attacked us on 911 and we invade Iraq, that would be like Attacking China because of Pearl Harbor.  The only thing that might happen is there may be less terrorist attacks if they felt POTUS was not such a root'in shoot'in cowboy, and maybe was someone that could negotiate and understands that some of the U.S. policies of the past created the hopelessness in the Middle East. That's a real big IF.

It seems that the terrorists become emboldened when Dem Prezs are in office. Jimmy ment well but his foreign policy was impotent.  Jimmy needed foreign policy VIAGRA. Our embassy guards were not allowed to use lethal force to protect our embassys. Iran, Turkey and somewhere in Central America are where we had embassys overrun by demonstrators. The IRANIAN monsters got it into their  heads to takeover and hold our embassy and hold our personel and the second time our emmbassy was overrun in Teheran was the hostage situation that lasted over 420 days.
{(Please do correct me if I'm wrong on my facts)I don't have the energy to quit now and research- if I need to modify this I will}.
When the GIPPER was running for prez, he didn't mince words (he said his 'blood boils every time he thinks about Iran' whow) and the IRANIAN terrorists were scared shitless cause they knew Reagan would pound on them and the VERY DAY after the inauguaration, they let the hostages go asap.  I only wish the Gipper had bombed our embassy in Teheran on the SECOND DAY to destroy the place where American sovereignty was desecrated. That would have been a nice psychological calling card for all future terrorists.
Willie was to busy chasing pussy to take foreign policy seriously. The terrorist really took notice of how the UN was bombing christian Serbs on the the Danube and how Islam was the new in religion here in the U.S. And then there were all the attacks during Willie's admin that went un-answered.

P.S. Godspeed to Willie Clinton for a full and fast recovery after his bypass heart surgery.  I have never hated the man.  He never hated Republicans and had the good sense to get out of the way and let the economy roar under the brilliant leadership of Newt Gingrich.

There's no god, but by sheer luck Bush is Allah's gift to Osama.  Bin Laden knows who Bush is, even if conservatives don't.  He knew he couldn't have launched his 9/11 attack with a more feeble-minded opponent in power.

Vote Bush '04:

It's still not too late,
To make us a failed state,
                 by 2008

I don't necessarily agree with all of the propaganda that maybe aired, but there are a few things that can't be disputed.

Even at the suggestion of .."a feeble-minded opponent in power" at least we have been thought to have had someone "IN POWER". I have emotional ties to everything that we are contributing to as a Nation in the Middle East.

I am personally affected by the injuries young Americans are returning to the US with. (~Hell, some might even accuse me of supporting job security as my career is first in the field of Ortho Trauma~) But, I have also witnessed a Country that knows terror upon each rising sun.

I wouldn't suggest that we impose American beliefs on any Nation, or that we should try to create mini-America's globally. I do believe, however that a country backed firmly by a superior Military will have more of an impact on it's citizens safety that a luke warm government that spends the majority of it's time "negotiating" it's beliefs.

I think bottom line with me is a strong leader who is also intelligent enough to entertain statements made by advisers, is the best answer. I also believe we need someone in office who isn't afraid to take a stand for what he believes is the best course of action. Many may vote with economics in mind or other variables. I am a simple minded female who emotionally believes a safe society outweighs anything else. Maybe I watch too much TV and am naive to believe in the party's platform. But I firmly believe anything less would compromise the safety of my tomorrows. ~So I might be brain washed~

Thanks for the time and space to air my two cents...  kisses Candace  

Take a look at Bush's eyes then. "Fahrenheit 9/11" may have been disputable on many points it made, but Bush's reactions that morning are not in dispute.

Take a look in his eyes, watch him, after he's informed of the attack, and the way he gingerly reaches for a children's book. Be informed that he not only continued to read to children for 7 minutes with that look in his eye, but that he then took a photo-op for another twenty. Be aware that terrorists have also watched this.

Now feel safe.

The fact is, the way I remember Bush's reactions that morning, I'm surprised Michael Moore didn't take a less tasteful shot at Bush than he did.

****
Politics aside, I welcome you here, and I'm glad to make your acquaintance, Candace. I hope you keep contributing to the board. An escort who rose through the ranks of the military is a welcomed voice here.  

/Zin