[Marxism] Time Mag. claims big bounce for Bush from convention

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This poll is probably partly accurate, but it may also mark the
beginning of a media drive to convince potential voters that Kerry is
already  a  lost cause.

If the rulers conclude that Kerry is not preferable as a war leader --
and the NY demonstration was a clear signal that the problems will not
disappear if Kerry is elected -- then the rulers need a Bush victory
that can be presented as a mandate, not the squeaker of 2000 with the
Democrats ahead in the popular vote and the deciding Florida electoral
votes having to be delivered by the Supreme Court.  This poll may be the
opening gun of a media attempt to present the Democratic campaign as
collapsing and perhaps a panicky retreat by the Democrats.

Of course, the whole purpose of the convention was to present any vote
not for Bush as unpatriotic and a stab in the back to America in the war
against terror.  The media -- even the pro-Democratic media -- is
crippled in taking on the charge by the fact that they need to foster
such sentiments in order to pursue the war.  Taking on that claim
head-on would weaken support for the war effort.

Much of the declining support the war retains among working and lower
middle-class people is based on precisely such "patriotic" assumptions
which the rulers cannot do without.  So an aggressive response to the
Republican convention would be counter to ruling-class interests.  This
also restricts the Democrats' ability and desire to respond strongly.

The probability that the election is and will be significantly closer
than this poll indicates are very high.  One result of the Republican
"fear and hate" campaign will be to convince some people that admitting
to planning to vote against Bush will be taken as unpatriotic or
anti-American.  Some may  bend to this pressure by switching sides, but
more, I suspect, will just refuse to talk to pollsters or claim to be
undecided.

And if Bush wins -- whether by a media-organized landslide or in a tight
vote -- his regime will continue to be weakened as long as events keep
moving in the direction that they have in the past few weeks in
Venezuela, Najaf, and the streets of New York City.
Fred Feldman


By Mark Sage, PA News, in New York

President George Bush secured a big bounce from his party convention,
putting him in a commanding lead in the election race, according to a
new poll.

Mr Bush was 11 points ahead of his Democratic rival Senator John Kerry
following the four day gathering of Republicans in New York City.

Until now, Mr Bush and Mr Kerry have been level pegging in the polls.

The poll for Time Magazine, out on September 6, also found support for
Mr Bush's handling of the war in Iraq had grown in recent days.

If the election were held now 52% would vote for Mr Bush and 41% for Mr
Kerry.

The poll was conducted from August 31 to September 2, while the
convention was being held.

The results come as a surprise even to Mr Bush's campaign staff.

The accepted logic in political circles was that the nation was so
divided, and voters so certain of how they would cast their ballot on
November 2, a convention bounce for Mr Bush was unlikely.

Mr Kerry's popularity rose by only a few points after the Democratic
National Convention, which was held in Boston in July.

According to the Time poll, Mr Kerry lagged significantly on the issues
of Iraq and the war on terrorism.

More than half - 53% - said they trusted Mr Bush to deal with the
situation in Iraq, opposed to 41% who supported Mr Kerry.

On terrorism, 57% trusted Mr Bush against 36% for Mr Kerry.

On the economy, the match was closer with 47% for Mr Bush and 45% for Mr
Kerry.

Mr Bush appeared to have succeeded in getting across the message that he
is a strong war leader.

More than half - 56% - said they trusted Mr Bush to provide strong
leadership in difficult times, while 37% said they trusted Mr Kerry.

And 54% said they believed Mr Bush would be best as commander-in-chief
of the armed forces, while 39% said they preferred Mr Kerry.

On Iraq, exactly half of those surveyed approved of the way President
Bush is handling the situation in Iraq, while 46% disapprove.

In another Time Magazine poll last week, 48% approved of the way Bush
was handling the situation in Iraq and 48% disapproved.

Mr Bush also received a four point boost from 55% to 59% from on his
handling of the war on terror.

Asked whether the war in Iraq had made the world safer, almost half -
45% - think the US actions have made the world safer, while 45% think
the world is more dangerous.

In an earlier Time Magazine poll, between August 3 and 5, 52% said the
world was more dangerous, and 38% said the world was safer.

Some 1,316 adults were questioned in the latest poll.

Yesterday, President Bush was back on the campaign trail after making a
prime time convention speech, in which he promised to win the war on
terror and defended the decision to oust Saddam Hussein from Iraq.

Meanwhile, Mr Kerry, a Vietnam war hero, accused Mr Bush of misleading
the US into the Iraq war.

And the Massachusetts Senator accused vice president Dick Cheney of
dodging service in Vietnam.

Mr Cheney deferred his service five times, while Mr Kerry served as a
Navy Swift Boat captain winning a silver star for bravery.

"I guess I'll leave it up to the voters whether five deferments makes
someone more qualified to defend this nation than two tours of duty," Mr
Kerry said.


John Johnson
Change-Links Progressive Newspaper
change@xxxxxxxxxxx or change-links@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://change-links.org
Subscribe to our list server. Email
change-links-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(818) 982-1412
Cell (818) 681-7448.

===


_______________________________________________
Marxism mailing list
Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism