Legitimacy

[c9]

I don't understand it. If we work on the basis that the voting machines worked properly and all that, then Bush is now legitimate. The Republicans increased the number of Senate seats, increased the number of House seats, they have a majority of the state Governors, and Bush even won the popular vote.

How is it that the entire western world, minus the USA, has one incredibly strong opinion about the facts and the direction of policy, and the USA has one that's so different? And more importantly, how will the world look four years from now? Bush's team has already dismantled 30 years of environmental protection laws, destroyed the fiscal stability of their country, destroyed the political stability of Iraq, ... again and again, reality outpaces satire.

Comments

[leapfish.livejournal.com]

What makes you think that all of the world shares one opinion? That's obviously not true, by the presence/absence of Western countries in Iraq. There are people violently opposed to American policy (Al Queda comes to mind), those generally not supportive (France, Canada) and those who support in general (Portugal, UK, Spain).

[c9.livejournal.com]

Very true. In general though, a poll of non-Americans would show strong Kerry support, and the election showed decently strong Bush support. Obviously the generalization doesn't carry too far, but it still boggles the mind slightly. Even if I changed it to a comparison of the G7-USA vs USA...

[nihilicious.livejournal.com]

I agree with that general point. But I think you put the UK in the wrong column, if you consider popular support as opposed to official support. Also, does Spain still belong in the pro-USA column? I haven't paid too much attention but I'm pretty sure they pulled out of the USA camp after their last election.