The environment gets plundered by corporations given free reign to exploit and pollute.

The economy gets ignored while the poor get poorer and the rich get richer.

Infrastructure, Education...you name it, if it's not related to Oil, Defense, or Religion you're likely worse off than before. As Bush asks more for Defense and more tax cuts, the rest of us will have to do more with less. The poor will get much poorer and the rich - surprise! - much richer. At least the poor can hit up the faith-based charities Bush keeps pushing.

But let's look at Bush's strong suit - terrorism. Bush has claimed repeatedly that he's tough on Terror, that he can win the War on Terror (subject to change on a daily basis). I contend that the Terrorists want Bush in power instead of Kerry, that they know Bush is extremely weak on Terrorism. Here's why:

Bush has misplaced focus. He started in Afghanistan going after bin Laden and removing the Taliban from power with partial success. Though no longer running the country the Taliban are still a problem, still fighting and recruiting. Bin Laden is still in hiding and actively recruiting. Bush had a solid force in Afghanistan and the blessings of the world behind him to get the Terrorist, break al Qaeda.

But he shifted to Iraq under dubious premises. He called for an invasion based on faulty intelligence and a strong desire to occupy Iraq. Our military is split. Iraq is in turmoil. Neither Iraq nor Afghanistan are shining examples of Democracy. And the death toll mounts on a daily basis. Abu Ghraib serves as a beacon for terrorist recruitment.

The terrorists want Bush elected because they know that Big Bubba has to do things alone, that Bush's arrogance demands a solo victory. Look at what the terrorists are doing, killing innocents from our remaining few allies in order to scare them away. They want America isolated. Other countries don't want or particularly need to place their people at risk so they're not rushing in to help Bush. No help asked for and none offered. Get America isolated and vulnerable. Bush promotes this with his "Stand Firm and Tough" attitude and "Bring it on" soundbites. Bush is playing right along with the Terrorists because Terrorism is good business, not for the average American but quite good for American Corporations like Halliburton (facing another investigation of fraud). Al Qaeda and other groups are recruiting like crazy and have a solid hold in Iraq, where before they didn't - thanks to Bush.

Worse, with the policy of pre-emption, our military will either be further split as we contend with Iran (with it's nuclear potential), Syria (where the Iraqi WMDs were supposedly shiiped), Saudi Arabia 9known supporters of terrorism), North Korea, and all the other countries that qualify for Democracy based on the criteria set by the invasion of Iraq. Unless the rest of the world invades us for the same reason of pre-emption.

With Bush the War on Terrorism won't end. It'll continue at great cost and manpower. In the name of National Security our budget will be catastrophically bloated and our Privacies and Rights thoroughly trashed. The War on Terrorism means power, power projected, power increased, feeding the image and ego of Big Bubba, who must stand alone raising the American flag in perpetual pyrrhic victory. Bush won't let the War end - it's too good for him and his contacts. What's a few bodybags. Why is Kerry so anti-war?

Kerry, on the other hand, will also fight Terrorism but he understands that this is not a fight to be undertaken alone, that to be effective you must have allies. That is his platform and it's correct. Kerry will restore trust in our allies. We need to for the old adage states "United We Stand, Divided We Fall." With Bush we stand alone and we fall. Kerry also understands that war isn't noble and clean. It's dirty, people - military and innocents - dying, blown to bits by grenades, shot in the head. It's a horrible smell. Kerry has been there and understands that aspect. Bush hasn't. Kerry sees war as desperate option; Bush sees it as a convenient tool. Kerry sees 1,000 dead, 10,000 wounded and feels pain, compassion. Bush makes no mention of the numbers - he doesn't care. He has no compassion.

Kerry won't focus just on the issues that get his attention. Kerry reads newspapers - he knows that there's more going on. Unlike Bush, Kerry will devote some attention to issues other than Terrorism. Unlike Bush, Kerry will use his intellect and not rely on others to do his job. Unlike Bush, Kerry may actually take responsibility for his actions whether good or bad.

So, really, Bush has no platform, no strong suits, nothing except what's written on the cuecards. He offers nothing to Joe America but vacant words. But for his energy friends, his religious friends, those cronies hiding in the shadows, he offers the World. That the Bush Administration is the most secretive in history, that Bush takes more vacation than any previous President should tell you: Bush cares little for you and offers you so little that he can take plenty of time off. Can you? Bush isn't fully in control, hence the secrecy and vacations. He and his cronies can't be trusted. Ignore their words and look at them - there's no honesty, no truthfulness, no sincerity. If you want Terrorism to continue unabated for 4 more years, you'll vote for Bush.