(BlackState.com May 2004) Many readers will enjoy this column because it's a prelude to the November 2nd presidential election, in which John Kerry was declared the winner, courtesy of my prolific dream. But those same readers may not be so happy if they fail to vote, and George "I'm the master of the universe" Bush is re-elected. Okay, before you get more flustered than you already are. Sample this!
On the night of April 30, 2004, while veering between sleep and insomnia, I dreamed about the presidential election. In the dream I saw John Kerry wildly pumping his fist as George W. Bush seethed with anger. At Bush's side stood his family. Jeb, who unlike four years ago, this time, failed to deliver the state of Florida to his brother's electorate column. Barbara, his mom, wearing her trademark pearls and gently wiping the tears from her son's face. Laura his wife of 27 years was soothing the wrinkles on his forehead; while his father, the elder Bush, stoically declared: "You should have gotten out of Iraq when you had the chance." Also on hand was the president's dog, Barney, who took one look at his master, and unleashed a smell so repulsive, the stench gravitated throughout the White House.
Finally after what seemed like an eternity, the 43rd president of the United States walked to the nearest mirror and somberly gazed at his reflection. There he stood, the man who spent four years making a mockery out of the English language. The man who didn't like holding press conferences because he was so lousy at it. The man who promised to restore dignity and morality to the White House following the exit of the Clinton administration. The man who thought that he and God worked hand-in-hand. And as the beleaguered Texan writhed in torment, Dubya realized that he was among a long line of presidents who failed to win a second term. The names read like a Who's Who of Political Duds: Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter (Theoretically, Carter cannot be characterized as a dud since he is recognized as a senior statesman of the Democratic Party), Herbert Hoover, William Taft, Benjamin Harrison, Martin Van Buren, John Quincy Adams and who could forget George Bush senior? Waking up long enough to write down the above scenario, I was overtaken by the dream bug again. Once more I found myself entrenched in the events of November 2. However, unlike the first dream this one was more subdued.
As I recalled millions of voters including yours truly, went to the polls to elect the candidate theyn felt was capable of leading the country over the next four years. And as night drew near and the nation dissipated into its nocturnal ritual, I eagerly awaited the outcome. Hoping to avoid the massive media coverage I headed to the Internet. There, I saw a bulletin pointing out that Kerry had won his home state of Massachusetts. Surfing the net like a groupie in search of a hunk, I realized that despite technological advances, I still had to rely on television for results and updates. Sitting on the couch with my trusty remote in hand, I made a bet with a friend as to which network would be the first to announce the winner. I didn't have to wait long. At 10:04 Eastern Standard Time, NBC's Tom Brokaw said the words millions had been waiting to hear. "With 275 electoral votes, the former senator from Massachusetts, John Forbes Kerry has been elected president. "This is quite stunning," noted Brokaw who is retiring after more than 30 years.
Kerry's win caught everyone off guard. Political pundits were baffled and with good reason. Two days before the election, polls showed Kerry trailing Bush by 10 points. Bush supporters were so sure their candidate would win, they went on talk shows touting the latest polling numbers. Fortunately, the supporters didn't count on the political savviness of the voters, who saw Bush as a friend of big business and a enemy of the common man.
As for George Bush, he now realizes that a campaign built on negativity does not win elections. Prior to the election, Bush's criticism of Kerry was viewed by many observers as the actions of a man trying desperately to save his job. Unfortunately for him, the voters spoke and what they said summed up Bush's entire campaign. He is a holier- than- thou- know- it- all who's convinced that he is a man of destiny. A man who believes he has a special rapport with God, as if the rest of us don't. A man who felt he could tell the American people anything and they would go along with his ideas, no matter how deadly or superficial. And in pondering why he lost the election, Bush will spend the next four years rationalizing over his failure to sell the American people on a lackadaisical campaign that never should have occurred in the first place.
Fast forward to the present: Although the presidential election is six months away, voters have plenty of time to decide if Bush is re-elected or if my dream of John Kerry's election comes to fruition. But regardless of whether you're a Democrat or Republican, ask yourself the following questions when stepping into the voting booth on November 2. Am I better off financially than I was five years ago? Is the loss of our soldiers in Iraq worth going to war for? If the American troops remain in Iraq, experts predict casualties could climb as high as 1,000 by Election Day. Lastly, does George W. Bush have any inkling of what it takes to be president? Or is he merely following in his father's foot steps, and trying to create a legacy that the elder Bush failed to accomplish? Those are the questions and it is the voters who will provide the answers.
