Well, frankly I'm still astonished about that election last week in the US. I've needed this much time to turn it over in my head. At first, I thought as The Daily Mirror did: "How Can 59,054,087 People be so DUMB?"

But now I'm not so sure if it was (just) stupidity.

If anyone cares to remember, back in March I predicted that the Bush Campaign would unveil a 'captured' Bin Laden at the 11th hour. Well, it didn't QUITE turn out like that. But all the same, there he was, on the weekend before the election with his slickest video yet, giving the American population a reason to stay afraid. There were a few things that stood out about that tape: the timing, the more 'professional' feel of the production, the vaguely concilliatory tone, the palpable threat, and the fact that - for the first time - the transcript of the ENTIRE video was released, translated into English. As it turns out, this probably worked BETTER for Bush than a suspiciously timed 'capture'. While that may have finally raised eyebrows enough for the general populace to see how full-of-shit the Bush Administration is, this video amped up the fear factor just enough to help sway the balance in his favor. And as an added bonus, Bush didn't have to put his buddy Osama in chains. Brilliant.

Another major factor in my opinion, was the question regarding gay marriage that was on the ballots in many 'swing' states, most notably Ohio. While Canadian provinces are redefining marriage to include gays and lesbians, 11 American states asked if gay marriage should be banned. This really helped to mobilise the evangelical right-wing, who, it would seem, organised their church groups to make sure they got the vote out. Those who may not have normally voted saw an opportunity to advance their hateful, exclusionary "moral values", and while behind the curtain, voted for Bush, who seems to be in their camp. The motion passed in all 11 states. I find this even more chilling than the prospect of 4 more years of Bush. That's a lot of people with their head in the wrong place. So now, there are a lot of people thinking about getting out of the US. Many are considering a move north:
Americans Flock to Canada's Immigration Web Site.

And one last thing, I know you conservative types are trying to sweep this one under the rug, and scoff it off as sour grapes, but the allegation persists that elections are not really clean and fair anymore in the US of A: Evidence Mounts That The Vote May Have Been Hacked. That's right kids, they may try to tell you that the chasm between the exit poll numbers and the actual ballot count is due to bad polling, but it seems just as likely to me that the numbers may have been tampered with. I bow to you, Karl Rove: King of Dirty Politics. You fuck. Fuck you. And Fuck the South too.

Kerry Won.
Here are the Facts.