In No More than 5 Sentences Describe the 2004 Election

[Akno21]

Assume you are writing a short summary for a high school textbook covering  American history. I'm curious to see how 2004 will look when it's just another blurb in the history books.

[Gabu]

John Kerry, the Democratic junior senator from Massachussets, and George W. Bush, the Republican president of the United States, were both nominated by their respective parties with minimal opposition in the primaries.  While the lead fluctuated between Kerry and Bush in the spring, Bush began to pull ahead in the summer when a group known as the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ran ads that brought into question the validity of the medals - three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, and a Silver Star - that were awarded to Kerry during his military service in Vietnam.  Both the Democratic National Convention in July and the Republican National Convention in August were carried out with neither any serious faults nor any knockout punches for either side.  As the race entered the fall, Bush was still ahead, but Kerry was widely regarded to have outperformed Bush in the first debate, gaining Kerry some momentum in the race.  However, it proved not to be enough for Kerry, as Bush was beginning to regain his stride by late October and went on to win both the pivotal state of Ohio in the general election and the electoral college itself, 286-251.

NOTE: I realize that I didn't mention Kerry's selection of a running mate, but I'm at five sentences and I can't see either a sentence that I could delete or a sentence in which I could fit that information.

[Beet]

In 2004, the opposition Democratic party nominated war hero John Kerry of Massachusetts to challenge President Bush. The campaign was sharply divisive and saw the most politically engaged electorate since the 1960s. Democrats criticized Bush for handling the war poorly and a weak economic recovery, but their campaign was hampered by fears of being labelled unpatriotic, which caused them to mute their criticism on Bush's conduct of the war. The Republicans on the other hand positioned themselves as the patriotic party and Bush as the strong leader that could be trusted to protect America from terrorist attacks. In the end, Bush was re-elected by an extremely narrow margin in the popular vote and 286 to 252 in the electoral college, much the same coalition he had had in 2000.

[True Federalist]

Here's a quick attempt at doing it humorously.

Dean screams.  Three purple hearts beats two Americas.  Republicans bounce at convention while Democrats bust.  Dirty tricks to the n^th degree.  Kerry swiftly sent vacationing after the election at the beach in his flip-flops.

[A18]

The result was narrow, but not "extremely narrow."

[Rob]

In the 2004 presidential election, President Bush was challenged by Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts. Kerry, a Democrat and Vietnam veteran, criticised Bush's conduct of the war in Iraq, the major issue of the campaign. In turn, the Republicans portrayed Bush as a strong wartime leader and assailed Kerry as a "flip-flopper" with no strong convictions. The campaign generated intense interest, and both candidates received strong support from their respective parties. On Election Day, with the highest voter turnout since 1968, Bush won a narrow but decisive victory; he polled 51 percent of the popular vote and 286 electoral votes, to Kerry's 48 percent and 252.

[Smash255]

After a suprising win in Iowa, Senator John Kerry went on to win the Democratic Primary and picked fellow Senator JohN Edwards as North Carolina as his running mate because of his populist appeal to take on president George W Bush. In order to counter the populist appeal of John Edwards, and to reach 4 million Conservative Christans they stated stayed home in 2000, the Bush camp dcided to push hard on social issues especially gay marriage which was on the ballot of many states. The race was back and forth from the start, but turned after ads from "the Swift Boat Vets for Truth" attacked Kerry for his Vietnam service.  As it turnes out the Swift Boat Vets never served with kerry, but the damage was already done as because of the Swift Boat Vets along with good feelings from his handling of 9/11, despite Iraq fallout, Bush had an advantage on National Security issues, especially after the Republican Convention which gave Bush a bump and a lead.   As Election Day approached, the lead Bush had began to shrink, making some GOP observers nervous as high turnout, which usually favors Democrats was expected, however due to the strong push on social issues as well as the lingering effects of the Swift Boat vets for truth ads the higher turnout this time helped the GOP, and Bush was elected in a close race.

[Jake]

With the backdrop of an increasingly unpopular war in Iraq, incumbent President George Bush, of the Republican Party, faced Democratic Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts. Throughout the summer, the race remained close, with neither candidate gaining any advantage in the race. However, in September, President Bush gained a slight advantage from the Republican Convention and negative campaigning by interest groups, and rode that advantage through the final months of the campaign. On Election Day, President Bush defeated Senator Kerry with 286 Electoral Votes to Kerry's 251. Bush was helped by large Christian Conservative turnout propelled by gay marriage initiatives on the ballot in many states and by his image as a strong wartime president.

[dazzleman]

In 2004, the opposition Democratic party nominated war hero John Kerry of Massachusetts to challenge President Bush. The campaign was sharply divisive and saw the most politically engaged electorate since the 1960s. Democrats criticized Bush for handling the war poorly and a weak economic recovery, but their campaign was hampered by fears of being labelled unpatriotic, which caused them to mute their criticism on Bush's conduct of the war. The Republicans on the other hand positioned themselves as the patriotic party and Bush as the strong leader that could be trusted to protect America from terrorist attacks. In the end, Bush was re-elected by an extremely narrow margin in the popular vote and 286 to 252 in the electoral college, much the same coalition he had had in 2000.

This is a very slanted description, Beet.  No doubt I could come up with one similarly slanted -- in the other direction.

[Beet]

In 2004, the opposition Democratic party nominated war hero John Kerry of Massachusetts to challenge President Bush. The campaign was sharply divisive and saw the most politically engaged electorate since the 1960s. Democrats criticized Bush for handling the war poorly and a weak economic recovery, but their campaign was hampered by fears of being labelled unpatriotic, which caused them to mute their criticism on Bush's conduct of the war. The Republicans on the other hand positioned themselves as the patriotic party and Bush as the strong leader that could be trusted to protect America from terrorist attacks. In the end, Bush was re-elected by an extremely narrow margin in the popular vote and 286 to 252 in the electoral college, much the same coalition he had had in 2000.

This is a very slanted description, Beet.  No doubt I could come up with one similarly slanted -- in the other direction.

Maybe, probably something unconscious on my part. In any case, I like Rob/Bob's description better.

[dazzleman]

In 2004, the opposition Democratic party nominated war hero John Kerry of Massachusetts to challenge President Bush. The campaign was sharply divisive and saw the most politically engaged electorate since the 1960s. Democrats criticized Bush for handling the war poorly and a weak economic recovery, but their campaign was hampered by fears of being labelled unpatriotic, which caused them to mute their criticism on Bush's conduct of the war. The Republicans on the other hand positioned themselves as the patriotic party and Bush as the strong leader that could be trusted to protect America from terrorist attacks. In the end, Bush was re-elected by an extremely narrow margin in the popular vote and 286 to 252 in the electoral college, much the same coalition he had had in 2000.

This is a very slanted description, Beet.  No doubt I could come up with one similarly slanted -- in the other direction.

Maybe, probably something unconscious on my part. In any case, I like Rob/Bob's description better.

I agree Rob's description is pretty good.  So is Jake's.

Beet, you do show a good amount of bias, either conscious or unconscious, in your views.  In discussions with me, I have seen you outright deny things that are as plain as day, because they don't support your point of view.

[Platypus]

Incumbent Republican President George W. Bush won the 2004 election with 286 electoral votes of a possible 538. His Democrat competitor, Vietnam purple-heart winner and Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, won his nomination decisively despite tough early competition. Kerry and Bush were both polling well throughout the summer, as the Iraq war emerged at the biggest issue, dividing the electorate; along with economic concerns and social issues including gay marriage and abortion. Bush, helped by anti-Kerry ads that portrayed him as a 'flip-flopper' and a small boost from the Republican Convention, took a slight lead into election day, when he won the key state of Ohio in an election that saw the highest turnout and most involved citizenry since the 1960s. Bush, who had reached approval ratings of 90% immediately following the September 11 terrorist attacks, won primarily due to a mixture of perceived patriotic duty to a wartime leader and a strong turnout by Christian Conservatives.

[Grad Students are the Worst]

Once upon a time, the valiant Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts battled the evil incumbent she-beast, George W. Bush of Texas.  After Bush bought his primary win, he persued to lie his way into a false lead.  On election day, the Diebold Corporation decided Bush should be President.  The world ended.  The end.

[TexasGurl]

A lost opportunity.

[MissCatholic]

The republicans got what they wished for. A massachusetts liberal John Kerry. The republicans only had to spend money in Ohio and Missouri. Democrats spent the whole summer and autumn protecting 20 years of hard work. Kerry protected all but two states; Iowa and New Mexico. Bush was re-elected but the democrats messed it up by picking a liberal from Massachusetts.

[agcatter]

Once again Dems nominated a northern liberal.  Pure stupidity.  Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and each time expecting things to come out differently.  They just can't help themselves.  Hillary will be their next mistake.

[Republican Michigander]

The democrats had a chance to defeat a president of a divided country. They chose a leftist Senator from Massachusetts who called himself a "war hero". The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth told the truth about this "hero" and negated John Kerry's strength. Kerry also was a gun grabber who claimed to be a "hunter." The people decided that "that dog didn't hunt" and gave him a defeat.

[Grad Students are the Worst]

Here's hoping you all aren't planning to start writing history books any time soon.

[J. J.]

A referendum on the last four years.

The "Security Election" where people voted for who they thought could better protect them.

[agcatter]

No northern liberal has been elected President of the United States since John Kennedy 1960.  That is a historical fact.  Even 1960, Kennedy didn't run as a liberal and in faact ran to right of Nixon on national security.  That was 46 years ago.

Ignore history at your own peril Dems.  If history is any indication, you'll do exactly that.  Just ask Presidents Humphrey, McGovern, Mondale, Dukakis, and Kerry.

[adam]

Kerry failed to capitalize on the mistakes of the Bush Administration and lost the election. However, rather than holding up the system and crying about it, he took it like a man and conceded and so for that I respect him.

[MaC]

Dems don't choose Dean because he yells.
Instead Kerry with absolutely no appeal gets chosen.
Kerry runs on the fact he isn't Bush.
Bush wins because of Karl Rove.
Bandit claims Kentucky was stolen.

[LINCOLN REPUBLICAN]

George W Bush was heading for a big win early in the campaign.  Then the first debate took place, which was a disaster for George W Bush and a triumph for John Kerry.  Kerry rebounded in the campaign, and was back in the running.  After a period of intense and controversial campaigning on both sides, Bush was re-elected with a majority of the popular vote and a clear win in the electoral college.  After complaining briefly about the Ohio results, in which Bush clearly won comfortably, Kerry conceded the election to Bush.   

[Reignman]

President Bush says going into Iraq was a good idea.

John Kerry says he was for war, but also against it, but he doesn't oppose it, or support it, but he's still the anti-war candidate, but he still would have invaded Iraq even if he knew there were no WMDs, but Bush went to war the wrong way, but he still didn't screw up when he signed the resolution, but Bush lied to America, but Iraq was a grave threat, but Iraq didn't cause 9/11 and Bush took his eye off the ball, but invading Iraq still could have been cool.

America chooses Bush.

[Secretary Polnut]

On November 2 2004, a deeply divided America went to the polls to elect a new President in the first election since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, incumbent president George W. Bush ran on a platform of national security, as did the Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts. While national security issues were his strength, Pres. Bush was weakened by a percieved economic downturn, which was affecting states vital for his re-election, such as Ohio; Senator Kerry had to attend to slanders from the so-called "Swift-Boaters for Truth" which attempted to besmirch his Vietnam War record (no reputable proof has been able to to verify this). The polls were a rollercoaster, with Kerry only getting moderate bounces from his convention (Bush got a much greater one) and Bush got one of his worst slumps after his poor performance after the first debate. The results showed just how divided the Nation was, the Electoral College vote of 286-252 was a net increase of 15 electoral votes to the President, however, the 2.4% margin Bush recieved was the lowest for a relected President.