Bush: Year 4 (2004)

The Bush Administration’s good political luck began to change in 2004. Left wing anger and paranoia over all things Bush found focus. They had been angered over Al Gore’s 2000 election defeat, Bush’s popularity, and the Iraq War. They were going over the edge. Michael Moore channeled left wing anger in his fictionalized account of the Iraq War, “Fahrenheit 911.” Bush’s popularity began to take hits as he failed to respond to criticism.

The Administration had it’s only real scandal in 2004. Prisoners in Abu Ghraib had been humiliated, intimidated and tortured. Images of a hooded Iraqi prisoner hooked up to what appeared to be wires made the front pages of magazines and newspapers around the world. This further fueled the expanding Iraqi insurgency.

In Spain, terrorists bombed a train. The attack and deaths frightened the left wing Spanish government into leaving Iraq. The Spanish reaction made the world more dangerous as terrorists now had a victory and a blueprint for further attacks. Spain’s reaction was irresponsible.

The one bright spot was Libya. As a result of diplomatic pressure, and pictures of Saddam Hussein’s arrest, the Libyan government gave up it’s nuclear program. This was Bush’s one major policy victory in 2004.

In November, Bush was re-elected over Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts. The election came down to Ohio. Bush carried it. He carried the nation with 51% of the vote. Bush was the first candidate in 16 years to crack the 50% mark. The final electoral count was 286-252. The Democrats mounted an amazing voter turnout, but it could not top the Social Conservative turnout. The GOP found voters no one knew existed. These voters did not show up for McCain in 2008.