H -°, L 6° | Tomorrow: 
H 18°, L 6°We are currently a country divided by a deep political rift. The polls and pundits, in anticipation of the Nov. 2 election, have described a nation largely split between those who ardently favor four more years of George W. Bush and those who believe John Kerry is the type of leader needed to change the course of this country. As a nation divided, these next four years will not be easy, no matter the president. Notwithstanding the result of this election, half the citizenry will be left uneasy with the outcome.
We, too, are torn in making a decision on who is best prepared to hold this nation’s executive office. Our views on the direction the country needs to take differ much like that of the rest of the nation. As a board, however, we have always seen our responsibility as that of representing the best interests of students at the University of Wisconsin. As we face what is quite possibly the most important presidential election of a generation, the leader of this nation will have a tremendous impact on our lives as students, our entrance into the working world and as citizens of this great country. In considering these reasons, we believe John Kerry is the most qualified candidate.
While both Bush and Kerry have placed significant emphasis on education, both viewing it as a long-term solution to job loss in this country, the measures described by Kerry better benefit America’s universities. Bush’s plans, with all their practicality, have emphasized the importance of increasing the capabilities and enrollment in our nation’s technical schools. Here at UW, Bush’s plans simply do not hold the significance of Kerry’s proposals.
Highlighted in his plan for higher education is Kerry’s proposal for child-tax credits to match average instate university tuition to ease the large financial burden of paying for college. This measure directly confronts the critical economic state of American higher education and resonates strongly with taxpayers, enabling middle-class families to send their children to college through incentives. Moreover, the Massachusetts Senator has proposed $50 billion in block grants to states specifically for the funding of higher education. And, in a very progressive proposal, Kerry seeks to offer full instate scholarships for low-income students willing to commit two years of their post-graduate life serving their nation or community in any number of charitable organizations or the military. We believe all these measures to be more practical and applicable at this university when compared with Bush’s vague proposals.
In terms of the economy, Kerry made mention in the second debate that reinvigorating this nation’s colleges and universities is essential to creating jobs and ideas for the future. Kerry promises to hold the line on middle-class taxes in a move to motivate small businesses and stabilize this segment of society. The senator is also proposing a tax cut for businesses that create jobs in America instead of moving them overseas. Such actions help to ensure college graduates have access to jobs. When compared with Bush’s tax breaks for the wealthy, Kerry’s plans are more in-tune with the economic status of most students’ families and the standing of recent college graduates.
Finally, in a time when the United States has mobilized troops for combat all over the globe, Kerry’s first-hand experience as a Naval officer in Vietnam is a quality that cannot be underestimated. Kerry knows the cost of war, and with this engrained in his mind, he grasps the absolute nature of combat. Kerry said it best during his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention last July: “As president, I will wage this war with the lessons I learned in war. Before you go to battle, you have to be able to look a parent in the eye and truthfully say, ‘I tried everything possible to avoid sending your son or daughter into harm’s way. But we had no choice. We had to protect the American people, fundamental American values from a threat that was real and imminent.’ This is the only justification for going to war.”
With 20 years of experience on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Kerry has the necessary diplomatic tools to create coalitions and treaties to help alleviate the over-exhaustion of our nation’s military and to help ensure the safe return of all our troops. While this is certainly the ultimate goal for all candidates, through much deliberation, we believe Kerry’s experience is more conducive to resolving the conflicts this nation has inherited during the Bush administration.
We believe Kerry has set himself apart from his competitors in the pillars most important to students. With an emphasis on alleviating the financial burdens of higher education and reinvigorating American universities to promote the economy, paired with tools to cope with this country’s military affairs, Kerry makes a strong case that he is the right man for the job.
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Where am I, what happened?
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Here are some other endorsements:
Other Than That, He’d Make a Great President—I
“I know few people enthused about John Kerry. His record is undistinguished, and where it stands out, mainly regrettable. He intuitively believes that if a problem exists, it is the government’s job to fix it. He has far too much faith in international institutions, like the corrupt and feckless United Nations, in the tasks of global management. He got the Cold War wrong. He got the first Gulf War wrong. His campaign’s constant and excruciating repositioning on the war against Saddam have been disconcerting, to say the least. I completely understand those who look at this man’s record and deduce that he is simply unfit to fight a war for our survival. They have an important point—about what we know historically of his character and his judgment when this country has faced dire enemies. His scars from the Vietnam War lasted too long and have gone too deep to believe that he has clearly overcome the syndrome that fears American power rather than understands how to wield it for good.”—Andrew Sullivan, endorsing John Kerry, The New Republic, Oct. 26
Other Than That, He’d Make a Great President—II
“I can’t remember ever voting for anybody I disliked as much as I do John Kerry, at least not for president, but vote for him I will. I didn’t have much use for Al Gore either, but I don’t remember any real sense of hostility before punching the hole next to his name… . I can’t persuade anybody to vote for a candidate for whom I can muster so little enthusiasm, but there must be an awful lot of people out there who are going to cast votes next week for Kerry who are, like me, discouraged by the prospect and needing one of those you-are-not-alone talks.”—Mark Brown, endorsing John Kerry, Chicago Sun-Times, Oct. 27
Other Than That, He’d Make a Great President—III
“I remain totally unimpressed by John Kerry. Outside of his opposition to the death penalty, I’ve never seen him demonstrate any real political courage. His baby steps in the direction of reform liberalism during the 1990s were all followed by hasty retreats. His Senate vote against the 1991 Gulf War demonstrates an instinctive aversion to the use of American force, even when it’s clearly justified. Kerry’s major policy proposals in this campaign range from implausible to ill-conceived. He has no real idea what to do differently in Iraq. His health-care plan costs too much to be practical and conflicts with his commitment to reducing the deficit. At a personal level, he strikes me as the kind of windbag that can only emerge when a naturally pompous and self-regarding person marinates for two decades inside the U.S. Senate. If elected, Kerry would probably be a mediocre, unloved president on the order of Jimmy Carter.”—Jacob Weisberg, endorsing John Kerry, Slate, Oct. 26
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This editorial actually makes me happy, as somehow the Badger Herald has a history of endorsing losing candidates over the past four years. It was Al Gore in 2000, Scott McCallum in 2002, and now, hopefully, John Kerry in 2004.
Let’s hope the Herald Kiss of Death strikes again!
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Anonymous #3, it’s not that the BH gives any “Kiss of Death.” It’s mostly a testament to how far removed from reality the paper is.
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“Let’s hope the Herald Kiss of Death strikes again!”
The sun shines even on a dog’s ass every once in a while. Kerry’s gonna win!
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Far removed from reality or your reality?
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Not everybody in Europe wants Kerry to win!
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,482-1332174_1,00.html
But for all this, if I had a vote on Tuesday I would be voting to re-elect President Bush.
It is partly Mr Bush's character. The perils of war really do demand leadership and moral clarity. It is partly, to be honest, the quality of his opponent. The more you see of John Kerry the more troubling the thought of his presidency becomes. Behind a lifetime of careful, calculated decision-making it is clear that he harbours a deep suspicion about the very idea of moral clarity in foreign policy.
It is partly what Mr Bush has done. Afghanistan is an infinitely better and less threatening place today than it was four years ago. Iraq, despite the catalogue of errors, is still heading that way.
But above all, in this oppositional sort of age, when it is often easier to be defined by what one is against rather than what one is for, I have to say it is his enemies who most justify Mr Bush's re-election.
The list of those whose world could be truly rocked on Tuesday is just too long and too rich to be ignored. If you think for a moment about those who would really be upset by a second Bush term, it becomes a lot easier to stomach.
The hordes of the bien-pensant Left in the universities and the media, the sort of liberals who tolerate everything except those who disagree with them. Secularist elites who disdain religiosity except when it comes from Muslim fanatics. Europhile Brits who drip contempt for everything their country has ever done and long for its disappearance into a Greater Europe.Absurd, isolationist conservatives in America and Britain who think the struggles for freedom are always someone else's fight. Hollywood sybarites and narcissists, self-appointed arbiters of a nation's morals.
Soft-headed Europeans who think engagement and dialogue with mass murderers is the way to achieve lasting peace. French intellectuals for whom nothing has gone right in the world since 1789.
The United Nations, which, if it had its multilateral way, would still be faithfully minding a world in which half the population lived under or in fear of Soviet aggression. Most of Belgium.
Above all, of course, Middle Eastern militants. If your bitterest enemies are the sort of people who hack the heads off unarmed, innocent civilians, then I would say you are probably doing something right.
This may sound petty. It is not. This constellation of individuals, parties and institutions has very little in common other than the fact that it has contrived to be wrong on just about every important issue of my adult lifetime.
And so, perhaps for the wrong reasons, perhaps less because he has been right and more because those who hate him so much have been so wrong, I want this President re-elected.
Go on America. Make Their Day.
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Hey, look at the flying pigs!
QUOTE: Above all, of course, Middle Eastern militants. If your bitterest enemies are the sort of people who hack the heads off unarmed, innocent civilians, then I would say you are probably doing something right.
I agree - don’t forget that Tehran is hoping for a Bush win!!
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“I agree - don’t forget that Tehran is hoping for a Bush win!!”
Why’s that? They afraid they’ll get sued by Edwards if Kerry wins?
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“Why’s that? They afraid they’ll get sued by Edwards if Kerry wins?”
Could be. Edwards has a long history of suing evildoers on behalf of honest Americans.
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Hey I want to know what the vote was on this editorial and who was in the room when that vote was taken. I refuse to believe this was a 5-0 decision.
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what i love is how everyone bashes the herald and yet everyone follows it so closely!
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BH = BS
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It shouldn’t be a shock to anyone that a student-run paper in one of America’s most liberal towns would endorse a Democrat. At least BH prints conservative columnists (Verstandig, Stern, Smith, Klemz). There’s no diversity on the Cardinal’s opinion page.
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Why shouldn’t they endorse a Democrat? I think that shows that even though they tend to be conservative, the BH writers recognize what a disaster Bush has been as president. Although they would prefer that a Democrat like Kerry not be president, they recognize that the Republicans weren’t going to send out a more reasonable candidate than Bush and that a loss in this election will allow their party to pick a sensible candidate in four years.
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Since when are we at war? Commander Bunnypants landed on that aircraft carrier and said that it was “Mission Accomplished”. I’ve tuned out all this “war” BS since then. If it’s a war, why are we still guzzling gas, lowering taxes and not having a draft? Can’t have it both ways, Dubs.
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Madison is really an island surrounded by reality. Once I left, that became as clear as crystal. In response to a few of the previous posts, I have a few comments.
“I think that shows that even though they [the BH] tend to be conservative…”—No paper in Madison is close to the middle of political ideology, let alone conservative. The BH, while maybe more conservative than some students, is by far a left leaning media channel. And, I would like to add, very shortsighted in its reasons for endorsing Senator Kerry.
“If it’s a war, why are we still guzzling gas, lowering taxes and not having a draft?”—Like the media, this “current war” is against all radical groups opposed to the way of life we know as our own, Not just the conflict in Iraq at the moment. The gas prices are a result of years of under inflated prices, increasing global demand (by countries like China, India, and the U.S.), an intense hurricane season, and limited supply by OPEC. Lowering taxes occured because of the need to stimulate the economy. Remember the tech bubble burst and 9/11? After that those events, most economists predicted a strong recession or even deep depression in this country. But, we are recovering and have unemployment at around 5% (total employment is considered to be 3% unemployment).
On election day tomorrow, check your facts before you vote. Remember that Bush inherited these problems (Clinton did little to nothing in the last several years of his presidency because of other well known issues) and has been dealing with them soon after he took office and has been cleaning up the mess ever since. Vote for what you believe in, but vote on the true facts, not media spin.
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“But, we are recovering and have unemployment at around 5% (total employment is considered to be 3% unemployment).”
Why don’t you check your facts? Unemployment rates don’t take into account people who have given up trying to find a job. Many of these people have given up because they spent prolonged periods of time looking for jobs without success and finally gave up hope.
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“But, we are recovering and have unemployment at around 5% (total employment is considered to be 3% unemployment).”
Why don’t you check your facts? Unemployment rates don’t take into account people who have given up trying to find a job. Many of these people have given up because they spent prolonged periods of time looking for jobs without success and finally gave up hope.
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Cleaning up the mess?
Republicans don’t “clean up the mess.” It’s not in their nature. Forget about the economy (and I think the Democrats have effectively exploited what amounts to a 15-year lucky streak of good economic times during Dem presidencies and the reverse during Bush presidencies—it’s far too complicated to rest on the president’s head) and even the failure of his foreign policy (tying up troops in a war doomed by a combination of Washington egghead think tankers who want to colonize the entire Middle East, and Rummy’s stubborn refusal to use adequate forces). If Dubya had even the slightest interest in doing anything effective during his term in office he would have started the steps toward a streamlined national election process that would benefit everyone. I’m not partisan enough to believe the only votes thrown out in Florida in 2000 were Democratic, and the national disaster that election and all its attendant foul-ups and legal challenges was would have presumably inspired any mess-cleaner to get to work and create a simple voting process to be used in every polling place in the nation. Maybe it would have even been too early to expect that this year. But has Dubya done a thing, even after the mess of 2000? Of course not! He’s from the wing of the republican party that doesn’t think government can do anything effectively. To them, governing is an endless cycle of: Cut taxes and privatize. Repeat. Problem solved. Outside of foreign policy, any solution that relies on big government, whether it’s having an admittedly blind stab at the economy or fixing a flawed election, is disdained by the President and his cronies. He even managed to underfund his cute little education bill, which despite the screams of every liberal in america, will never amount to anything good or bad. So stop pretending Bush has any inclination to clean anything up. He never has and he never will. Vote for him, if you like, because he’ll cut taxes well beyond the effects of the Laffer Curve and bring back the Gilded Age’s inequalities and attendant environmental catastrophes, but don’t pretend he’ll lift a finger. Doing anything productive in government hasn’t been a goal of the Republican Party since their last liberal president, Richard Nixon, resigned in shame.
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All the young republicans voting for Bushy need to kep their mushy brains on their heroin source created by Bushy ,Afghanistan.Kerry will dry up your source. Only republicans should serve in a war created by a facist administration.
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It has been documented many times that Bush believes God is directing his foreign policy. Japans emperor thought the sme thing during W.W.II. A delusional president? You bet.
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www.johnkerryisadouchebagbutimvotingforhimanyway.com
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“www.johnkerryisadouchebagbutimvotingforhimanyway.com”
See also www.georgewbushisthedumbestmanaliveandahomicidalwarmongertooandralphnaderisamonomaniacaldumbasssoiamgoingtovotefortheonlylegitimatecandidateinthiefield.com
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I have a great idea: let’s go communist. Hey, it can’t be any different than what we’re dealing with now!
IP hash: 97c10822
I have a great idea: let’s go communist. Hey, it can’t be any different than what we’re dealing with now!