Another Endorsement for Kerry

America's next president

The incompetent or the incoherent?
Oct 28th 2004
From The Economist print edition


With a heavy heart, we think American readers should vote for John Kerry on November 2nd

YOU might have thought that, three years after a devastating terrorist attack on American soil, a period which has featured two wars, radical political and economic legislation, and an adjustment to one of the biggest stockmarket crashes in history, the campaign for the presidency would be an especially elevated and notable affair. If so, you would be wrong. This year's battle has been between two deeply flawed men: George Bush, who has been a radical, transforming president but who has never seemed truly up to the job, let alone his own ambitions for it; and John Kerry, who often seems to have made up his mind conclusively about something only once, and that was 30 years ago. But on November 2nd, Americans must make their choice, as must The Economist. It is far from an easy call, especially against the backdrop of a turbulent, dangerous world. But, on balance, our instinct is towards change rather than continuity: Mr Kerry, not Mr Bush. [...]

I saw a link to this on one of the Arborblogs, disjointed.org.  It surprised me, because I did not think that The Economist was going to come out with an outright endorsement.  I suppose anyone could have discerned from their previous editorials which candidate they would rather see as our next President.  Still, it is rather bold of them to come right out and say it, so bluntly. 

It occurs to me that this endorsement is significant.   Mr. Bush often complains about Kerry, saying, in effect, that Kerry will not be able to interact appropriately with our allies.  This always impressed me as a dumb thing for him to say, since the majority of the population in the rest of the world would rather see Kerry elected.  Now, though, we see a fiscally conservative organization overseas expressing the same opinion.