Special Coverage: Election 2004

Election 2004

AlterNet's coverage of the 2004 election.

Imagine That

Deanna Zandt, AlterNet. July 16, 2004.
The New York creative community steps into the fray of the Republican Convention, offering up the Imagine Festival – six days, 50 venues, over 100 events.

New Mexico Trending Blue

Don Hazen, AlterNet. July 16, 2004.
Recent political dynamics and voter mobilization efforts give a positive outlook for Democrats in New Mexico in 2004.

Cabin Fever

The Advocate. July 16, 2004.
The Log Cabin Republicans, who watched conservatives attempt and fail to pass a constitutional ban on gay marriage, are having trouble endorsing Bush for a second round.

Hoping for the Best, Planning for the Worst

Michael Blanding, AlterNet. July 16, 2004.
Even though police in Boston are working to accommodate protesters during the Democratic convention, there are signs that officers are planning for mass arrests.

Youth in Office

Dan Hoyle, WireTap. July 15, 2004.
In an era of Jesse "The Body" Ventura and the Arnold "The Governator" Schwarzenegger, are youth just another freak act in the ever-expanding political circus? No, youth in office aren't clowning around.

Tom DeLay's Tainted Ethics Panel

Bill Berkowitz, AlterNet. July 15, 2004.
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay faces several charges before the House ethics committee – what does it mean for DeLay that four of its members have accepted contributions from him?

Mrs. President

Kari Neumeyer, Women's eNews. July 14, 2004.
The reality series 'American Candidate' could sweeten some women's interest in politics. Choosing the candidates to be America's next television president, however, may not have been the most democratic process.

Dueling for the NRA Vote

Evan Derkacz, AlterNet. July 14, 2004.
Believers in the Second Amendment aren't necessarily believers in a second term for Bush.

Using the Right's Image Approach

Thomas Schaller, Gadflyer. July 13, 2004.
Kerry's adman Bob Shrum has seen the future of campaign ads – in his own consultancy past

Giving Felons a Role in Democracy

Robin Templeton, AlterNet. July 13, 2004.
The RNC attacks America Coming Together for hiring people with past felony convictions, then hires Republican bad boy – and convicted felon – Don King to lead public relations in the African-American community.

Terrorism Threatens the Ballot Box

Bill Berkowitz, AlterNet. July 12, 2004.
The administration is warning that large-scale terrorist attacks could force postponement of the November elections.

Party Time

Meredith O'Brian, The Center for Public Integrity. July 12, 2004.
As the Democratic Convention approaches, over 200 parties are in the works for the four-day event. In the absence of soft-money donations, everyone from Time Warner to the American Gas Association is getting in on the party-making fun.

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

Joe Trippi, AlterNet. July 12, 2004.
An excerpt from the new book by Joe Trippi, the mastermind of the Howard Dean campaign.

The Future's So Bright

Safir Ahmed, AlterNet. July 12, 2004.
Joe Trippi talks optimistically about the Internet and the Democrats' prospects – and compares the Dean campaign with the Japanese at Pearl Harbor.

Getting the Dems Back on Track with Blacks

Earl Ofari Hutchinson, Pacific News Service. July 12, 2004.
John Edwards should buck the trend among Democratic presidential contenders of downplaying civil rights issues. Instead, he should speak out loudly for affirmative action and hate crimes legislation, and for ending mandatory drug laws.

Plumbing the Depths of 'America's Heart and Soul'

Max Blumenthal, AlterNet. July 9, 2004.
Disney's counterpoint to 'Fahrenheit 9/11' is a right-wing anti-government commercial insidiously cloaked in a 'Morning in America' aesthetic.

To the Ladies in the Room

Molly Ivins, AlterNet. July 8, 2004.
Warning: Frank Luntz arms Bush with 'framing' devices to court the womens' vote – Bush's anti-woman record be damned.

Demi-Demonstration in Boston?

Michael Blanding, The Nation. July 8, 2004.
Progressive activists at the Democratic convention are faced with the question of whether to protest or just talk about their issues.

The Wrong Crowd

John Stauber, Sheldon Rampton, AlterNet. July 7, 2004.
The folks helping to get Nader on the ballot in Oregon and other states are the same people who brought us the conservative Heritage Foundation and the American Legislative Exchange Council.

Oil Money Rules In The West's Mini-Middle East

Paul Krza, High Country News. July 7, 2004.
The freshmen Democratic Governors of Wyoming and New Mexico don't have an easy time combatting the powerful energy interests in their states.

Enviros Endorse Edwards

Sunny Lewis, Environment News Service. July 7, 2004.
John Edwards' stellar environmental voting record delights conservation groups and adds a distinctly green hue to the Kerry campaign.

Kerry's Number Two Is a Number One Choice

Arianna Huffington, AlterNet. July 7, 2004.
Five reasons why John Edwards is the perfect choice – and will leave Dick Cheney dropping the F-bomb.

Kerry Taps Edwards

John Nichols, The Nation. July 6, 2004.
John Edwards, who aggressively campaigned for the vice presidency, brings some charisma and star power to the Kerry campaign.

Californians Head East to Make a Difference

Jan Frel, AlterNet. July 5, 2004.
Activists are driving across state lines to counties in Arizona and Nevada to help swing a Democratic victory in November.

Ditching the Lipstick-and-Panties Pitch

Bella M. DePaulo, AlterNet. July 5, 2004.
If Democrats want to inspire single women to vote in November, they need to lose the cutesy marketing slogans and talk about the issues.

Conscience of the Convention

Adam Reilly, Boston Phoenix. July 5, 2004.
Dennis Kucinich has only 68 delegates and 15 minutes to speak at the convention in Boston, but he still believes he can transform the Democratic party.

I'm Your Candidate and I Approved This Steaming Pile of Lies and Innuendo

Sean Aday, Gadflyer. July 2, 2004.
It's widely accepted that 'attack ads' are successful; but what exactly is an 'attack ad,' and what do we mean by 'successful?'

The GOP's Silent Majority

Cynthia L. Cooper, Women's eNews. July 1, 2004.
After a recent poll determined that most Republicans support a woman's right to choose, a pro-choice Republican bloc prepares for a turf war at the upcoming convention.

John Kerry's Room with a View

Arianna Huffington, AlterNet. July 1, 2004.
What Kerry must do is give the Democratic Party – and American politics in general – an extreme political makeover.

John Kerry: Once a Beauty, Now a Beast

Liz Cox Barrett, CJR Daily. July 1, 2004.
If media pundits are to be believed, the Prince Charming of 2000 has lost not just his looks but his entire personality in the space of 1,460 days.

Stop Talking 'Economy,' Stupid

Matthew Yglesias, The American Prospect. June 30, 2004.
As soon as the domestic policy debate moves off "the economy" and toward social policy issues, Democrats will win every time.

The Case for Edwards

Thomas Schaller, Gadflyer. June 30, 2004.
John Edwards' message and identity make him a great pick in the veepstakes.

Dropping Out of the Electoral College

Steven Hill, Rob Richie, TomPaine.com. June 29, 2004.
The Electoral College system isn't only cumbersome and outdated – it's anti-democratic.

Electronic Voting – Not Ready for Primetime

Howard Dean. June 29, 2004.
Paperless voting's time has not yet come, says Howard Dean.

Embedded Patriots

William Greider, The Nation. June 28, 2004.
A potent guerrilla insurgency has formed in and around the Bush presidency; a revolt of old pros in government may already have paved the way for a Kerry victory.

Why I Changed My Voter Registration Today

Norman Solomon, AlterNet. June 28, 2004.
The Green Party's momentous decision to endorse David Cobb and his 'safe states' strategy over Ralph Nader may usher in an era of a viable and sophisticated progressive movement.

Let’s Get Political

Julia Scott, Newsdesk.org. June 28, 2004.
Activist churches and religious conservatives are pushing a bill that would provide a neat little exemption for them to engage in partisan politics.

Kerry’s God Problem

Amy Sullivan, Gadflyer. June 25, 2004.
Kerry's discomfort with religion could be costly – both feeding the conservative myth of the godless liberal and alienating religious Democrats.

This Ain't No Party

Jeff Chang, AlterNet. June 25, 2004.
The first National Hip-Hop Political Convention was inspired, passionate, energizing – and a great leap forward into activism.

A Serious Threat to Democracy

Al Gore, AlterNet. June 24, 2004.
Al Gore reminds America that we should be as fearful of a government that exploits our fear of terrorism to expand its powers as we should of terrorism itself.

Call to Action on Electronic Voting

Molly Ivins, AlterNet. June 24, 2004.
Liberals and conservatives alike must act to ensure fairness and accuracy of elections.

It Ain't Lyin' If...

Matthew Yglesias, The American Prospect. June 23, 2004.
Did the Bush administration deliberately split semantic hairs to mislead the nation into war?

November 2: Independence Day

Don Hazen, AlterNet. June 23, 2004.
A brand new, ambitious campaign aims to mobilize millions of new voters with a simple message.

American Extremists

Margaret Kimberley, The Black Commentator. June 22, 2004.
How is it that white supremacists continue to emerge from Republican ranks?

Awkward Kerry, Hopeless Bush: What's A Single Gal to Do?

Sharon Lerner, Village Voice. June 22, 2004.
Although both parties are drooling over the prospect of attracting their vote, single women will need a lot more incentive to get to the polls come November.

Bush Downsizes Small Business

James Devitt, Gadflyer. June 21, 2004.
Bush's shabby treatment of the small business community, which accounts for well over 99% of American businesses, provides Kerry with a huge opening -- so why won't he take it?

The Sour Smell of Spoiled Ballots

Greg Palast, AlterNet. June 21, 2004.
One million black votes didn't count in the 2000 presidential election; this year it could be worse.

Presidential Campaigns and Media Charades

Norman Solomon, AlterNet. June 18, 2004.
Fast talk substitutes for straight talk when trying to win an election -- whether your name is Bush, Kerry or Nader.

Diplomats and Soldiers v. Bush

Katrina vanden Heuvel, The Nation. June 17, 2004.
Former diplomats and retired military commanders accuse George W. Bush of endangering the nation and call for his defeat in November.

The Patriot Amendment

Molly Ivins, AlterNet. June 17, 2004.
Clean elections are under attack from the right even as reports prove their success.

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