Damned by faint praise

The outcome of the 2004 United States presidential election would be different if a new ballot took place this year, according to a poll by Bloomberg and the Los Angeles Times. 47 per cent of respondents would vote for Democrat John Kerry, while 40 per cent would support Republican George W. Bush.

Michael Dukakis should trounce Dubya. Kinky Friedman should wipe the floor with him. Hell, Lyndon LaRouche should beat him, though it might be close.

If in April 2006 John Kerry only wins by seven points, I'm taking all that nascent optimism about the midterms and burying it out back next to my bomb shelter.