Red Over Blue: The 2004 Elections and American Politics

By James W. Ceaser and Andrew E. Busch

Book Overview

From moral values to weapons of mass destruction, from exit polls to Swift Boat Veterans, from red states to blue states, the 2004 Presidential election left an indelible mark on American politics. In Red over Blue: The 2004 Election and American Politics, James W. Ceaser and Andrew E. Busch go beyond headlines and soundbites to explore the events, outcomes, and effects of the most recent exercise in American democracy. Beginning with an analysis of George W. Bush's first term and continuing through the primaries, general election, and aftermath, the authors share their insight and analysis through a clear and engaging narrative. Ceaser & Busch also look beyond the Presidential contest to examine important house, senate and gubernatorial races, as well as controversial state initiatives that played an important role in the 2004 election season.

Building on Ceaser & Busch's studies of the 1992, 1996, and 2000 elections, this volume is essential reading for courses in American Government, Campaigns and Elections, and Presidential Politics, as well as for any American interested in the real and lasting importance of the 2004 elections.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0742534979
• ISBN13: 9780742534971
• Release Date: March 2005
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

This is the real deal!

As an independent who has voted for George Bush and Ralph Nader in the last 5 years, I want to commend Caeser for a thoughtful analysis of last year's elections. His conclusions are meaty and well-supported. In no uncertain terms, he explains why 2004 really was one of the most significant and extraordinary elections of the last 100 years. There are rich details, a lot of statistics, and yet the whole thing is very readable. He covers the entire gamut well, from state elections all the way to Bush's surprisingly-strong victory. Don't let the title fool you: this is not propoganda, and Caeser maintains clear neutrality and objectivity. This is no triumphal tome, and he does not read into the results anything which isn't there (he does not guarantee continued dominance by the Republicans, for example). A minor criticism: he could have said a bit more about the clear divide in geographic terms; Democrats really DO rule in just a few places which are characterized by urbanness (NYC, L.A., Chicago, etc.), secular academia (university towns), strangeness (San Francisco), and loose morals (Las Vegas, New Orleans, etc.) Virtually the entire rest of the nation is red. Here is a nice piece of work which is not afraid to put it all on the table, for the most part, and to explain why things unfolded as they did.