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| Elections, scary stuff | Elections, scary stuff |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A POINT OF VIEW By Tim Egan | A POINT OF VIEW By Tim Egan |
| It's decision time for Americans | It's decision time for Americans |
| The US congressional election battle is under way. And it's scary as Halloween. | |
| Next Tuesday is Halloween, and this year Americans will spend nearly $5bn trying to scare each other to death. It's fantasy night - a time when the office accountant is transformed from a potted plant into a Keith Richards pirate. Millions of people will be wearing George Bush masks. | Next Tuesday is Halloween, and this year Americans will spend nearly $5bn trying to scare each other to death. It's fantasy night - a time when the office accountant is transformed from a potted plant into a Keith Richards pirate. Millions of people will be wearing George Bush masks. |
| Halloween used to be a kid's thing, all about candy and three year olds in angel wings. But the adults hijacked it, and now Halloween - sad to say - is all about us. | Halloween used to be a kid's thing, all about candy and three year olds in angel wings. But the adults hijacked it, and now Halloween - sad to say - is all about us. |
| A week later is the national election, with control of the United States Congress up for grabs. I can take the severed limbs and fake scars. But I'm not sure I can take the political scare ads in these final days before the 7 November election. Because more than anything, it appears, this election is about fear. | A week later is the national election, with control of the United States Congress up for grabs. I can take the severed limbs and fake scars. But I'm not sure I can take the political scare ads in these final days before the 7 November election. Because more than anything, it appears, this election is about fear. |
| BBC NEWS: AUDIO Hear A Point of View in the BBC Radio Player | BBC NEWS: AUDIO Hear A Point of View in the BBC Radio Player |
| By most accounts, power is going to change hands. Choose your metaphor - and they're usually weather-related. | By most accounts, power is going to change hands. Choose your metaphor - and they're usually weather-related. |
| It's either going to be a tidal wave, with a sea of disgust washing out the most encrusted incumbents. Or a firestorm, the grassroots inflamed with anger at the Republicans who hold all branches of power and what's seen by many as a disastrous war. Or perhaps, the Republican dike will hold. Barely. | It's either going to be a tidal wave, with a sea of disgust washing out the most encrusted incumbents. Or a firestorm, the grassroots inflamed with anger at the Republicans who hold all branches of power and what's seen by many as a disastrous war. Or perhaps, the Republican dike will hold. Barely. |
| But before we get there, we have to get through this: A picture of Osama bin Laden, in an Uncle Sam outfit, finger outstretched. "I want you to vote Democratic" is the caption. | But before we get there, we have to get through this: A picture of Osama bin Laden, in an Uncle Sam outfit, finger outstretched. "I want you to vote Democratic" is the caption. |
| Bin Laden is seen more in political posters than Halloween outfits | Bin Laden is seen more in political posters than Halloween outfits |
| That's from the Republican side, prominently displayed on the web site of the most popular radio host in America, Rush Limbaugh - a bombastic, cigar-smoking hulk of a man. Understatement is not part of his shtick. | That's from the Republican side, prominently displayed on the web site of the most popular radio host in America, Rush Limbaugh - a bombastic, cigar-smoking hulk of a man. Understatement is not part of his shtick. |
| Or picture this, from the Democratic side, in this case directed against Clay Shaw, a veteran Republican member of Congress from Florida. Fade in with the Mission Accomplished banner - you know, the one that flew on that Navy carrier shortly after President Bush announced the end of major combat in Iraq. No need to say anything - the banner speaks for itself. | Or picture this, from the Democratic side, in this case directed against Clay Shaw, a veteran Republican member of Congress from Florida. Fade in with the Mission Accomplished banner - you know, the one that flew on that Navy carrier shortly after President Bush announced the end of major combat in Iraq. No need to say anything - the banner speaks for itself. |
| Cue the scary music, like the soundtrack from Psycho just as Janet Leigh gets knifed in the shower. Cut to a picture of Bush and vice-president Cheney. They're scowling, of course, and the image is in black and white. Negative political ads never use colour. | |
| As Mark Twain once said, there is no distinctly American criminal class except Congress. | As Mark Twain once said, there is no distinctly American criminal class except Congress. |
| "Wherever George Bush goes, Clay Shaw follows," the narrator says. "It's almost like they're one person." By the end of the ad, they are one person, the two faces merging. | "Wherever George Bush goes, Clay Shaw follows," the narrator says. "It's almost like they're one person." By the end of the ad, they are one person, the two faces merging. |
| I suppose there was a time when candidates asked people to vote for them because they shared a political philosophy. I suppose that time predates modern democracy. | I suppose there was a time when candidates asked people to vote for them because they shared a political philosophy. I suppose that time predates modern democracy. |
| Now, it's vote for me because I'm not a paedophile, or a drunk, or a mistress-choking adulterer, or a moron - all of which members of Congress have been accused of, with varying degrees of veracity, in the last month. | Now, it's vote for me because I'm not a paedophile, or a drunk, or a mistress-choking adulterer, or a moron - all of which members of Congress have been accused of, with varying degrees of veracity, in the last month. |
| As Mark Twain once said, there is no distinctly American criminal class except Congress. | As Mark Twain once said, there is no distinctly American criminal class except Congress. |
| Big scare tactics | Big scare tactics |
| Every poll from the last few months shows that voters overwhelmingly disapprove of the job that congress is doing. For modern times, this is as low as it gets. | Every poll from the last few months shows that voters overwhelmingly disapprove of the job that congress is doing. For modern times, this is as low as it gets. |
| You take these ratings, along with the President's leaden numbers, and you know why the Democrats have to do little more than stay out of jail for the next 10 days. | You take these ratings, along with the President's leaden numbers, and you know why the Democrats have to do little more than stay out of jail for the next 10 days. |
| Where Bush goes, Shaw supposedly follows | Where Bush goes, Shaw supposedly follows |
| People tend to hate Congress - as a group - but like the individual members. | People tend to hate Congress - as a group - but like the individual members. |
| So for Democrats - who have shown that they are better at forming circular firing squads than winning elections over the last 10 ten years - the Big Scare is a fairly easy proposition: Tie all Republicans to their leader, George Bush. | So for Democrats - who have shown that they are better at forming circular firing squads than winning elections over the last 10 ten years - the Big Scare is a fairly easy proposition: Tie all Republicans to their leader, George Bush. |
| Comedians mock him, even more than usual. Democrats dare him to make an appearance in their part of the country. Their slogan - Had Enough? - says it all. Even Republicans are hiding from Mr Bush. | Comedians mock him, even more than usual. Democrats dare him to make an appearance in their part of the country. Their slogan - Had Enough? - says it all. Even Republicans are hiding from Mr Bush. |
| Some opposition candidates are simply showing stock film of what must have seemed to the Republicans a glorious day not so long ago: the time when President Bush departed from Air Force One in Smalltown, USA, with the beaming member of Congress in tow. | Some opposition candidates are simply showing stock film of what must have seemed to the Republicans a glorious day not so long ago: the time when President Bush departed from Air Force One in Smalltown, USA, with the beaming member of Congress in tow. |
| This October, those presidential visits are about as welcome as a flu virus. | This October, those presidential visits are about as welcome as a flu virus. |
| We used to say, all politics is local - a bit of conventional wisdom handed down from the late Irish-American politician Tip O'Neill. But not this year. The Democrats have nationalized the election and in that sense it seems to me it's very similar to the British parliamentary system. | We used to say, all politics is local - a bit of conventional wisdom handed down from the late Irish-American politician Tip O'Neill. But not this year. The Democrats have nationalized the election and in that sense it seems to me it's very similar to the British parliamentary system. |
| Republican red | Republican red |
| The Democrats need to pick up 15 seats to gain a majority in the House of Representatives - the lower chamber, with 435 members. Fifteen seats was a dream in January. Now they're talking about picking up 30 seats and they say 60 seats are in play. In the reddest of Republican red America, from southern Idaho to western Nebraska, the Grand Old Party's in deep trouble. | The Democrats need to pick up 15 seats to gain a majority in the House of Representatives - the lower chamber, with 435 members. Fifteen seats was a dream in January. Now they're talking about picking up 30 seats and they say 60 seats are in play. In the reddest of Republican red America, from southern Idaho to western Nebraska, the Grand Old Party's in deep trouble. |
| What gives? The stock market has been hitting record numbers. Gas prices have fallen by nearly a third over the last six months. But voters say there is one thing weighing over everything else: the war and the President's handling of it. | What gives? The stock market has been hitting record numbers. Gas prices have fallen by nearly a third over the last six months. But voters say there is one thing weighing over everything else: the war and the President's handling of it. |
| Rove was telling Americans to 'stay the course' | Rove was telling Americans to 'stay the course' |
| Two months ago, Karl Rove - the President's chief political strategist - outlined what looked like a perfectly winnable Rovian strategy. He framed the election as a choice between the President's party - "Stay the Course" and win out in Iraq. Or to "Cut and Run" like those cowardly Democrats. | Two months ago, Karl Rove - the President's chief political strategist - outlined what looked like a perfectly winnable Rovian strategy. He framed the election as a choice between the President's party - "Stay the Course" and win out in Iraq. Or to "Cut and Run" like those cowardly Democrats. |
| But on visits among the home folks, Republicans found that nobody wanted to stay the course. Slowly, drip by drip, press leak by press leak, hedge by hedge, a new Republican strategy started to emerge, looking conspicuously to some at least like cut and run. | But on visits among the home folks, Republicans found that nobody wanted to stay the course. Slowly, drip by drip, press leak by press leak, hedge by hedge, a new Republican strategy started to emerge, looking conspicuously to some at least like cut and run. |
| Earlier this week, the White House announced that staying the course would no longer be used. The words were banished from all Republican talking points. | Earlier this week, the White House announced that staying the course would no longer be used. The words were banished from all Republican talking points. |
| Republicans still have more money for the final 10 days and are much better at getting their voters to the polls. Rove said the party will spend $100m between now and election day and he predicted that they would hold onto Congress. | Republicans still have more money for the final 10 days and are much better at getting their voters to the polls. Rove said the party will spend $100m between now and election day and he predicted that they would hold onto Congress. |
| And what's the message? Well it's scare the voters. Osama is back, as mentioned earlier. One ad running throughout the country shows bin Laden and his henchmen with images of terror and hints of nuclear bombs. "These are the stakes," the narrator intones. "Vote November 7th." | And what's the message? Well it's scare the voters. Osama is back, as mentioned earlier. One ad running throughout the country shows bin Laden and his henchmen with images of terror and hints of nuclear bombs. "These are the stakes," the narrator intones. "Vote November 7th." |
| Late Osama bid | Late Osama bid |
| A week ago, Rove told a gathering: "If leading Democrats have their way, our nation will be weaker and the enemies of our nation stronger." | A week ago, Rove told a gathering: "If leading Democrats have their way, our nation will be weaker and the enemies of our nation stronger." |
| Osama himself made a real-time audio appearance two years ago late in the game and it's thought to be one of the things that cost John Kerry the presidential election. | Osama himself made a real-time audio appearance two years ago late in the game and it's thought to be one of the things that cost John Kerry the presidential election. |
| Pelosi has come under attack | Pelosi has come under attack |
| But there are other scary things as well - like Mexicans. About 12 million Mexicans are in the US illegally. To some, it's a source of renewal and cheap labour. To others, it's an American apocalypse. Pat Buchanan, a leading conservative pundit, is out with a new book called State of Emergency - The Third World Invasion and Conquest of America. | But there are other scary things as well - like Mexicans. About 12 million Mexicans are in the US illegally. To some, it's a source of renewal and cheap labour. To others, it's an American apocalypse. Pat Buchanan, a leading conservative pundit, is out with a new book called State of Emergency - The Third World Invasion and Conquest of America. |
| Many campaign ads show furtive looking figures sneaking across the border at night and a tag line about how Democrats will let more of this happen. | Many campaign ads show furtive looking figures sneaking across the border at night and a tag line about how Democrats will let more of this happen. |
| A Republican congressional candidate in Orange County has taken another step, instead of scaring people about Mexicans he tried to scare the Mexican-Americans. | A Republican congressional candidate in Orange County has taken another step, instead of scaring people about Mexicans he tried to scare the Mexican-Americans. |
| He sent out a flyer, written in Spanish, to select voters with this message: "If you are an immigrant, voting in a federal election is a crime that could result in jail time." | He sent out a flyer, written in Spanish, to select voters with this message: "If you are an immigrant, voting in a federal election is a crime that could result in jail time." |
| In fact, immigrants who become naturalized citizens can vote. No matter - scare 'em silly is the command of the day. | In fact, immigrants who become naturalized citizens can vote. No matter - scare 'em silly is the command of the day. |
| Pelosi panned | Pelosi panned |
| A 66-year-old woman from San Francisco, the Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, is also featured in scare ads. She is the most likely Speaker of the House, the leader, if Democrats are to gain control. | A 66-year-old woman from San Francisco, the Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, is also featured in scare ads. She is the most likely Speaker of the House, the leader, if Democrats are to gain control. |
| San Francisco, with its heavy gay population, ultra-liberal politics and image of sunny agnosticism, is portrayed by Republicans as the embodiment of everything outside of mainstream America. | San Francisco, with its heavy gay population, ultra-liberal politics and image of sunny agnosticism, is portrayed by Republicans as the embodiment of everything outside of mainstream America. |
| By that construct, a vote for John Kleeb - a Democrat running in rural Nebraska - is not really a vote for some local "Good Old Boy" who wants to shake things up. No - it's a vote for San Francisco Liberal Nancy Pelosi and that squishy moral relativism by the Bay. | By that construct, a vote for John Kleeb - a Democrat running in rural Nebraska - is not really a vote for some local "Good Old Boy" who wants to shake things up. No - it's a vote for San Francisco Liberal Nancy Pelosi and that squishy moral relativism by the Bay. |
| Should the Democrats win, she may become house leader | Should the Democrats win, she may become house leader |
| In pictures, Pelosi is shown with bulging eyes, looking like a nag with a liberal chore list. Another picture shows her with a whip. As one pollster said: "She's the kind of the pariah from central casting." | In pictures, Pelosi is shown with bulging eyes, looking like a nag with a liberal chore list. Another picture shows her with a whip. As one pollster said: "She's the kind of the pariah from central casting." |
| President Bush has started to mention Pelosi in his stump speeches, as the Osama gambit has failed to gain any traction. | President Bush has started to mention Pelosi in his stump speeches, as the Osama gambit has failed to gain any traction. |
| Pelosi herself has tried to soften and counter the image. In media profiles she goes out of her way to say she was raised a Roman Catholic, is the mother of five children and a grandmother to boot. | Pelosi herself has tried to soften and counter the image. In media profiles she goes out of her way to say she was raised a Roman Catholic, is the mother of five children and a grandmother to boot. |
| In response, Republicans have simply cut to the chase, with these words on the Republican Party web site: "Nancy Pelosi is just plain scary." | In response, Republicans have simply cut to the chase, with these words on the Republican Party web site: "Nancy Pelosi is just plain scary." |
| And what does that leave the voter with one week after Halloween? Be afraid. Be very afraid. Add your comments on this story, using the form below. | And what does that leave the voter with one week after Halloween? Be afraid. Be very afraid. Add your comments on this story, using the form below. |