Nightmare in America Pt.1 (Democracy)

I'm not surprised by the outcome at all. John Kerry never dealt with the Republican attacks against him well and never articulated how he would change the country.

I would have written him a speech something like this- right after the swift-boat disaster:

A lot of people get cynical around election time in this country. The voters; the press; the campaign workers; sometimes even the candidates really don't believe a thing they are saying. They sometimes don't really think that telling the truth means anything; that they can say what they think will get them elected. That's the most frightening and dangerous thing challenging our democracy these days- not terrorists, North Korea, or hanging chads; it's cynicism.

I have not been immune to this- my staff is infected with a sense of partisan righteousness that is bordering on a zealotry. I find myself approving their attack ads at 4 AM on a plane crossing the Dakotas. I catch myself spouting their sound bites in overheated news studios in Florida. I see myself on the evening news when I'm lying alone in my hotel room in Dayton- roll over to talk to my wife (and she is not there) and know in my heart that I have not told you, the American voters, why-

[*chokes*]

-really why I am running for President of our great country.

It's because our country isn't so great anymore. We are a fearful and powerful force in the world and we are letting ourselves turn it into something hateful and oppressive. I'm sorry to have to put it like that but we have been. I have to say it like that because no one on my staff will be seen on TV saying it; no one on Fox News or CNN will be allowed to say it in some ten second sound bite. This part of my speech will be edited for rebroadcast and distorted by my opponents and taken out of context- but those of you here in this room will know what I mean, and I might be able to live with myself after all of this is over.