AP: Conservatives Win, Moderates Lose in 2004

[Blue_Tires]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- You're not alone, Sen. John Kerry. Diplomacy, nuance and your adviser Bob Shrum were also Election Day losers.
And don't get too puffy-chested, Mr. President. Values, exurbs and your political aide Karl Rove had winning nights that rival yours. In addition to the 59.3 million happy Bush voters and 55.7 million grim Kerry voters, it's a full roster of winners and losers.

---

Winner: Fear, a powerful motivator and Bush's main weapon. With more than 1,100 dead in Iraq and millions unemployed at home, many Americans wanted a new direction. Bush made them afraid of change, warning of terrorist strikes and Kerry's ability to command.

Loser: Hate, the emotion that rallied Democrats behind the first candidate they thought could beat Bush. "Anybody But Bush" buttons were all the rage, but Kerry's Vietnam combat record alone wasn't the antidote to Bush's formula of fear.

Winner: Exurbs, the farthest suburbs in states such as Minnesota, Wisconsin and Arizona are packed with new Republican voters and converted Democrats. Rove thinks shifts to the GOP in exurbs and small towns are the secret to a semi-permanent Republican majority, and nobody is arguing with him right now.

Loser: Europe, a continent filled with Bush bashers whose sentiments were summed up by this Daily Mirror of London headline: "How can 59,054,087 people be so dumb?"

(more)

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WINNERS_AND_LOSERS?SITE=VANOV&SECTION=HOME

[Yupster]

1. I disagree about Edwards

I'd call him a loser of the election.

I just don't see what he added to the ticket, and now he's out of a senate seat too.

I think Obama and especially Salazar can be big winners though. Two winners who are both attractive minority candidates.

Also, I'd call Hillary a winner. Boy to me the fruit looks ready to be picked by her. If she gets in next time, it's hers without a fight.

[Gopens]

2. Loser: Hate?

Um, I think the Bush administration used hate to an astonishing degree in this campaign. Gay marriage bans, anyone?

I think hate, unfortunately, was a BIG winner on Nov. 2.

[Carolab]

3. Wrong headline

"Criminals win, Americans lose again in 2004"

[Blue_Tires]

4. the whole world has lost