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Gifts for all occasions in the Galleria! The "What is the Deal?" Deal-of-the-Week: 
November 14, 2004 What is the Deal with Post-Election Analysis? By Jan A. Larson Since the 2004 presidential election results were declared (although I'm not sure CBS has declared them yet), pundits and partisans have been trying to analyze just why President Bush won and why Senator Kerry lost. They were quick to jump onto the idea that "moral values" was the deciding issue, but that appears to be just a vague and convenient excuse for Democrats to dismiss Kerry's loss by blaming it on the unenlightened, Bible-toting masses living in the "flyover" states. As Charles Krauthammer pointed out in a recent article, "moral values" encompasses a broad category that was compared to narrowly defined issues such as education, taxes and the war in Iraq, when Election Day exit polls were conducted. When the category of moral values is compared to the equally broad categories of economic issues and national security issues, moral values comes in third on the list. I do not dispute that a perception of declining moral values in this country may have inspired more people to come to the polls, but the fact of the matter is, that when it came to electing a president, more people simply trusted and believed President Bush. They believed that President Bush says what he means and means what he says. They believed John Kerry says what he thinks his audience wants to hear. They believed that President Bush has acted and would continue to act in the best interest of America. They believed that John Kerry would act in the interest of making America more popular in France. They believed that showing terrorists and the world that America will not waver in the war on terrorism is preferable to trying to simply get out of the "wrong war at the wrong time." They believed that tax cuts and a growing economy are preferable to tax increases and class warfare. They believed Rudy Giuliani, Zell Miller and the Swift Boat veterans. They didn't believe Michael Moore, George Soros and Hollywood. They believed both the President and the Senator served their country honorably. They didn't believe the Senator had been honorable upon his return from duty. They believed that Laura Bush represents America in a way that makes Americans proud. They didn't believe Teresa Heinz Kerry would do the same. They believed that there is one America - one that needs Americans working together to make it better. They didn't believe that there were two Americas, one for trial lawyers and one for the unwashed masses. Most of all, Americans believed in the ideals that made the United States the greatest country on Earth - hard work, self-reliance, standing firm and the belief in a brighter future - the same ideals in which President Bush also believes. It is good that those in the Democratic Party reflect on why they lost this election. It is good for them to take a hard look at why the most vocal in their party are the ones so vastly out of touch with "regular" Americans. Today's Democratic Party is not the party that my parents supported when I was young. Moral values? Yes, the perception that the Democratic Party (at least the loud left wing) has lost its morality is a reality, but this election wasn't just about a fringe group of Bible-carrying yahoos all of a sudden deciding to vote Republican. It was about the Democratic Party representing, not the "common man" but rather the snobbish, cultural elite - the people whose values are far removed from working Americans and whose "we know what's best for you" attitudes just don't cut it with those Americans that know what is best for themselves. If the Democratic Party leadership takes a hard look at why this election was lost and makes serious, genuine changes in the Party's direction, then ultimately all Americans will be winners. Two strong parties that offer viable alternatives is what makes our system work. If, on the other hand, the Democrats rationalize the 2004 election results, they will likely be in for more of the same in years to come. -- Send feedback to the author. The "What is the Deal?" column will appears weekly on the Pie of Knowledge website. Guest submissions are welcome and encouraged. To submit an article to "What is the Deal?" click here. To subscribe to the "What is the Deal?" mailing list and receive early notification when a new column is available, click here. The Pie of Knowledge will never, ever divulge email addresses to any third party for any reason unless so ordered by a court of law. Contributions to the Pie of Knowledge are greatly appreciated. 
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