(Part 1 of a 3-part series)

It has happened so often recently that the point needs to be addressed.

A few weeks ago I heard two well intentioned liberals on a television show hosted by one of them attempt to comprehend how George W. Bush had "won" the 2004 election despite a first term of failure and low polling figures from the public.

The show's host explained to his guest that the election was ultimately decided on "fear" and that the critical swing bloc that decided the election ultimately concluded that, despite any dislikes for Bush or misgivings about his record, that the Republicans were a safer bet during a period of potential peril than John Kerry and the Democrats.