Perhaps it's that President Bush inspires such a visceral reaction, such an extreme of hatred and despair, that Sen. John Kerry, D.-Mass., cannot help but look bland in comparison. Kerry is trailed by apathy, and while the left reluctantly embraces the heir apparent because he's \anybody but Bush,"" that may not be enough to get him in the White House.
Bush's polls are at an all-time low, rightfully plagued with the unmitigated disaster that is Iraq continuing to drain lives on all sides and an economy that won't jump-start no matter how many nice things the administration says about it. But as his moderate supporters fade and even the normally reliable right hesitates to hand out constant accolades, Kerry's polls have not seen much of a rise in response. While a political scientist can list off a string of reasons this could occur, it still seems contrary to instinctive assumptions of cause and effect, especially as events like the March for Women's Lives pulls large-scale activism back into the spotlight.
On a gut level, why are we not excited about Kerry? He is quite possibly the most liberal Democratic candidate since FDR survived 14 years in office. He promises to advance so many causes that have been viciously wounded by the neocons populating Washington D.C. He wants to tax the rich more rather than burdening the poor. He'll protect the right to choose. Despite his personal dedication to Catholicism, he will show better judgment than Bush and keep a strong line between church and state. He'll protect the environment rather than let Mercury build up in the water or allow oil drilling in Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. He favors civil unions, though not gay marriages, but it's a start. He's served in combat rather than dodged it thanks to family connections and won't send soldiers into any more pointless undeclared wars. And, most importantly, he's an intelligent man.
But Kerry is a professional politician, and professional politicians don't necessarily inspire. It certainly doesn't help that he hasn't been on the campaign trail for years, and a style that was apparently never very energetic is marked by lethargy and a lack of inspiration. He improves week by week, but watching him speak is still like watching a robot's batteries run down.
One of the things Kerry desperately needs is a running mate able to counteract this weakness, someone with fire and charisma to go out on the campaign trail and be a revelation. The left wants to believe in something and someone, and we want to see it in front of us-not on pieces of paper.
His short list is a little too calculated on other factors, including two Florida politicians that almost certainly won't actually be able to deliver the state. Bush's campaign ads, while none too subtle, merely take the time to refer to aspects of Kerry's voting record as troubling. Kerry's been around long enough to create a jumbled but traceable voting record, and conflicts can be found, just as they would be for any other long-term political figure. This makes for easy targeting and leads the wavering, not fully informed voter to question Kerry's motives and consistency. But with several decades of political experience, a few shifts in thinking are more than allowable, since it indicates a mind willing to evolve and change. What those voting records do confirm, as an overall trend, is that Kerry is a good liberal. The face he presents on the campaign trail may not always show it as he makes plays for moderates, but a quick rundown of the positions shows him on nearly the opposite end of the spectrum from the current archconservative commander-in-chief.
Wisconsin is a swing state and it has been for years. Gore carried the day here, but only just, winning by less than 6,000 votes. While a win is a win whether victory comes a few hundred votes or several thousand, Kerry needs to pull something out of his hat and present a more interesting fa??ade than Al Gore ever gave us.
Kerry will get the votes from the left because we fear Bush's potential Supreme Court appointments, his foreign policy and his endless disregard of the separation of church and state. But it would be a more meaningful and solid victory if he could create some true believers. We are not voting between two evils this time-one man has proven his toxicity in the last three years while the other offers the hope of addressing the current administration's mistakes. In November, the United States will likely be polarized in a way unseen for decades and Kerry must win the fight; too many precariously perched rights depend upon it.
