Bush for president (San Diego Union-Tribune Endorsement)

San Diego Union-Tribune ^ | 17 October 2004 | Editorial Board

[Lando Lincoln]

For a brief decade or so after the Berlin Wall collapsed, signaling the demise of Soviet communism, the security of America as the world's lone superpower appeared to be assured. But the convulsion of Sept. 11, 2001, shattered the comforting illusion that the United States was safe from foreign enemies.

It is against the backdrop of this jolting reality that George Bush's presidency has played out. Now, voters must decide whether Bush has met his duty as commander in chief at this uncertain hour in history, or whether he should be replaced by John Kerry. There are many issues by which the two contenders for the Oval Office must be judged, but the paramount one is America's national security.

In recent days Kerry told The New York Times that his goal as president would be to contain terrorism to the level of a nuisance, like prostitution. That telling comment revealed a perfunctory worldview that is strikingly different from that of Bush, as his record of the last three years dramatically attests.

On the offensive

When al-Qaeda terrorists struck, the president went on the offensive in aggressive fashion. He perceived immediately that the international order had changed in profound ways, that the wide-flung tentacles of terrorism threatened the civilized world.

The resulting U.S.-led war to topple the Taliban in Afghanistan and destroy al-Qaeda's base of operations is now widely seen as essential to the emerging campaign against global terrorism. Kerry complains that Osama bin Laden has eluded capture. But the truth is that President Bush's unflinching decision to dispatch American military forces to a remote corner of the planet in pursuit of terrorists was the key turning point in confronting this global menace.

Today, all is not completely well in Afghanistan, a country long balkanized by warring tribal factions. Yet the once-entrenched al-Qaeda is on the run, and fair elections have set the stage for a democratic government that will not provide a safe haven for violent Islamic radicals.

Iraq war the right decision

The war to oust Saddam Hussein in Iraq was largely a consequence of Bush's post-Sept. 11 resolve to stay on the offensive against threats to America's security. Hussein's open defiance of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions and the nearly universal belief that Baghdad possessed prohibited weapons of mass destruction posed a danger that Bush refused to ignore.

Today we know that the U.S. intelligence assessment – along with those of other Western nations – was egregiously flawed in assuming that Hussein was harboring stockpiles of chemical and biological arms. This must be recorded as a blunder of historic proportions. But it does not alter the reality that the bloodstained regime in Baghdad represented a genuine threat, including the potential for al-Qaeda to gain a new foothold if not a new sponsor.

In our view, the world is indisputably more secure with Saddam Hussein behind bars. The decision to go to war was the correct one. We reach this conclusion while recognizing the ferocious insurgency currently under way in Iraq, and the terrible toll it has taken on American lives and resources. Few communities have experienced the pain more acutely than San Diego. At least 150 military personnel from Camp Pendleton have sacrificed their lives in this cause.

Yet Iraq now has an opportunity it never had under Saddam Hussein – to establish a representative government that respects human rights and the legitimate aspirations of its people and the sovereignty of its neighbors. Even the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has shown signs of disbanding his militia and joining the nascent democratic process. Another very significant dividend from the conflict is Libya's abrupt decision to surrender its WMD ambitions.

Kerry's approach

It is important to consider how Kerry would have responded to the Iraqi threat. Our guess is that, given his harsh criticism of Bush for not winning Security Council approval before going to war, Kerry would have retreated from the use of force in the face of U.N. reticence. Even today, he says he would scale back American involvement in Iraq by persuading the French and the Germans to send troops to relieve U.S. forces – a wholly unrealistic strategy that would serve only to embolden the insurgency.

Certainly Kerry's vacillation on the war suggests he would have been far less decisive than Bush was. Although he voted to give the president authority to use military force, he reversed course once the going got tough and cast a crucial vote against arming and supplying the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. His 20-year voting record in the Congress reinforces the view that Kerry would be reluctant to commit American troops to battle. He was, after all, among the minority of senators who voted against the resolution authorizing the use of force to expel Iraq's army from Kuwait.

Future challenges

The next occupant of the White House will confront several foreseeable crises around the globe and, no doubt, a number of others that are unforeseen. For starters, both North Korea and Iran are seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Failure by the United States and the rest of the international community to blunt this nuclear proliferation could be catastrophic for global peace and security.

Beyond these pressing challenges, the mission in Iraq plainly will test the steel of the next president just as surely as it has the current one. In fact, the struggle against terrorism will be substantially defined by the outcome in Iraq.

John Kerry's record of waffling on issues large and small does not instill confidence that he would provide the steady leadership that these uncertain times demand. With George Bush, however, there never is any doubt about where he stands. That is why he merits another four years in the White House.

[Lando Lincoln]

Lando

[somerville]

A California paper endorsing Bush ? Who did they endorse in 2000 ?

[cgk]

I was wondering when this would become "official."

This past week I read a letter to the editor complaining that the paper had endorsed Bush for President sometime around the 10th, but I never saw the endorsement and couldn't find it.

Here's a link to the daily tally, as of today (not including this one):

Daily Endorsement Tally: Kerry Picks up 28 Papers, Owns Huge Lead

[maxwell]

OK: it's nice that they endorse Bush. I and every other redblooded American appreciate that.

I do however have a big problem these days, hearing that this or that newspaper has endorsed a candidate. Is noone even trying to maintain some semblance of objectivity?

[cgk]

This is from the same paper, this morning:

[cgk]

I was wondering that as well. Has there ever been any determination that a newspaper's endorsements sway their readers for or against a particular candidate?

[cgk]

Oh, I found a couple "objective" type papers :):
Two other papers that backed Bush in 2000 announced they would not pick either candidate this year: the Tampa Tribune and the Winston-Salem (NC) Journal.

[Perdogg]

Freep this poll!!!

http://dailynews.com/Stories/0%2C1413%2C200%25257E25126%25257E%2C00.html

[John Jorsett]

Wow. After seeing their circulation falling to ruin, maybe they're trying to reconnect with the mainstream in San Diego. Still surprising, since the current publisher is the over-the-top gay son of the late publisher. He's rumored to be in ill health, though, so maybe he doesn't have anything to do with the running of the paper now.

[calcowgirl]

Here's a summary of the "E&P Tally" from your link

Total tally: Kerry (43), Bush (27)

Papers mentioned as additions today:

John Kerry newspaper endorsements (28)

Akron Beacon-Journal in Ohio
Bradenton Herald in Florida
Charlotte Observer
Columbia Tribune in Missouri, Colorado 
Daily Camera in Boulder, Colorado
Daily Camera in Colorado
Daily-Herald in Arlington Heights, Ill., 
Dayton Daily News
Daytona Beach News Journal
Duluth (Minn.) News-Tribune. 
Fresno Bee  (CA)
Grand Fords (ND) Herald
Kansas City Star
Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader
Mail-Tribune in Medford, Oregon
Minneapolis Star-Tribune in Minnesota
Modesto Bee (CA)
Muskegon (MI) Chronicle. 
Palm Beach Post
Press-Democrat in Santa Rosa, CA
Roanoke (Va.) Times
Sacramento Bee (CA)
San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
San Jose Mercury-News (CA)
The Boston Globe
The Miami Herald, St. Petersburg Times
The New York Times

President Bush (14)

Arizona Republic
Chicago Tribune
Denver Rocky Mountain News
El Paso Times 
Indianapolis Star 
Las Cruces Sun in Texas
New York Sun
News-Gazette in Champaign-Urbana, Ill. 
Omaha World-Herald
The Dallas Morning News. 
The Freelance-Star in Fredericksburg, Va.
The Repository in Canton, Ohio
The Times-Republic in New Philadelphia, Ohio
York (PA) Daily Record


Not Picking
Tampa Tribune 
Winston-Salem (NC) Journal. 

[cgk]

Thanks for the tally... I was looking for one on their site and assuming it would come out tomorrow. (Call me lazy) ;)

[maxwell]

Has there ever been any determination that a newspaper's endorsements sway their readers for or against a particular candidate?

I honestly don't know about that.

I do reckon that if someone went and got swayed by a newspaper about a presidential election, why, that person is a poophead and should not be left alone with potato peelers.

[dalereed]

FR was listed as one of 3 conservative web sites in the "Insight" section again this morning(back page in bold print).

[Christian4Bush]

bttt

[calcowgirl]

Thanks for the tally... I was looking for one on their site and assuming it would come out tomorrow. (Call me lazy) ;)

Good Morning Lazy ;-)

They published an updated list, with Kerry 45, Bush 30, and 3 announcing they won't endorse. Still no list, so I created one from their articles. (I can only find 43 for Kerry... vs. the 45 they quote). This still doesn't reflect the San Diego Union Tribune for Bush.

President GEORGE W. BUSH

1. Amarillo Globe-News (TX)
2. Arizona Republic (AZ)
3. Chicago Tribune (IL)
4. Denver Rocky Mountain News (CO)
5. El Paso Times
6. Ft. Worth Star-Telegram (TX)
7. Globe-Gazette (Mason City, IA)
8. Grand Rapids Press (MI)
9. Indianapolis Star (IN)
10. Las Cruces Sun (NM)
11. Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV)
12. Mobile Register (AL)
13. New York Sun (NY)
14. News-Gazette (Champaign-Urbana, IL)
15. Omaha World-Herald (NE)
16. Richmond Dispatch
17. Savannah Morning News (GA)
18. The Columbian (Vancouver, WA)
19. The Courier (Findlay, OH)
20. The Dallas Morning News (TX)
21. The Freelance-Star (Fredericksburg, VA)
22. The Leaf-Chronicle (Clarksville, TN)
23. The Oakland Press (Pontiac, MI)
24. The Pueblo Chieftain (CO)
25. The Repository (Canton, OH)
26. The Sun (Lowell, Mass)
27. The Times-Reporter (New Philadelphia, OH)
28. The Union Leader (Manchester, N.H.)
29. Tulsa World (OK)
30. York Daily Record (PA)

Senator JOHN F. KERRY

1. Akron Beacon-Journal (OH)
2. Arizona Daily Star (Tucson)
3. Bradenton Herald (FL)
4. Charlotte Observer (NC)
5. Columbia Tribune (MO)
6. Daily Camera (Boulder, CO)
7. Daily-Herald (Arlington Heights, IL)
8. Dayton Daily News (OH)
9. Daytona Beach News Journal (FL)
10. Detroit Free Press
11. Duluth News-Tribune (MN)
12. Florida Today in Melbourne (FL)
13. Fresno Bee (Ca)
14. Grand Forks Herald (ND)
15. Kansas City Star
16. Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
17. Lone Star Iconoclast (Clifton, TX)
18. Mail-Tribune (Medford, OR)
19. Miami Herald (FL)
20. Minneapolis Star-Tribune (MN)
21. Modesto Bee (CA)
22. Muskegon Chronicle (MI)
23. Palm Beach Post (FL)
24. Portland Press Herald (ME)
25. Roanoke Times (VA)
26. Sacramento Bee (CA)
27. San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
28. San Jose Mercury-News (CA)
29. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
30. South Florida (FL)
31. South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Ft. Laudedale, FL)
32. St. Louis Post-Dispatch
33. St. Petersburg Times (FL)
34. The Albuquerque Tribune
35. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
36. The Boston Globe
37. The Day (New London, CT)
38. The New York Times
39. The Oregonian (Portland, OR)
40. The Philadelphia Daily News
41. The Philadelphia Inquirer
42. The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, CA)
43. The Seattle Times (WA)
44. ?
45. ?

No Endorsement

1. Tampa Tribune
2. Winston-Salem (NC) Journal.
3. Wichita Falls Times-Record in Texas