What helped and hurt the candidates in the Kalarhythms of 2004 and how the styles & policies of the candidates contrasted against the times: First, the position and influence of Kalarhythms in 2004 is briefly described to set the stage. Next, a perception of the presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates of the two leading parties is offered in terms of Physical, Emotional and Intellectual energies. Finally, the candidates are viewed in context of the changing Cycles of time. This is to compare Interpersonal Styles with the Now of the nation.
If you have not yet read the Introduction to Kalarhythms (linked to from here and top of the left hand menu), then it is advised that you take a brief look at it now in order to better understand this report. Then go on to read the report below in a more enjoyable manner.
The Cycles
| 28y Physical |
36y Emotional |
44y Intellectual |
The Kalarhythms of 2000 - 2010 is generating an unusually high and rising level of energy in a Three-Way High of the Cycles. The Physical Cycle crossed up into its High half just before the decade began to enter its 1st Qtr. of Foundations and Precedents from 1999 - 2006. This brings the New Reality of our times in which advances endeavors with substance over unsupported ideas. After a peak in 2006, the Physical Cycle will be in its 2nd Qtr. until 2013, bringing widespread industrial expansion. The Emotional Cycle peaked in 2000 to increase speculation and morality as it began the 2nd Qtr. of Expansion and Variation which will last until 2009. Then a Downward Crossover of the Emotional Cycle with bring a moral crisis to those in power. The Intellectual Cycle is rising through a 1st Qtr. of new beginnings from 1995 - 2006. Both the Intellectual and Physical Cycles will peak simultaneously in 2006 and the nation will burst into a level on energies not seen in decades. As the Intellectual Cycle enters the 2nd Qtr. of Expansion, will be join by the Physical Cycles in a Double Physo-Intellectual 2nd Qtr. combined with an Emotional High that will spur remarkable advances to the science. This combinations of Cycles brings a Three-Way High that is building the greatest output of energy in the United States since the "Roaring Twenties" of the previous century.
The Candidates
The Republican Candidates for President and Vice-President were George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, respectively. Here is a analysis of what may be the styles and policies of these men
George W. Bush: Physical. The incumbent president is from the Physically-based Southwest region of the United States, namely, Texas. His most notable policy is that of military strength. He increased funding to expand the armed forces and he took a hard stance against terrorism following the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. After Iraqi leader, Sadam Hussein, was suspected of developing weapons of mass destruction and thousands of Iraqi citizens were tortured, assassinated and attacked with illegal poison gas, President Bush urged the United Nations to strengthen sanctions and resolutions against dictatorship. Believing that further threats were imminent, President Bush lead a coalition of nations to wage war against Iraq. His manner of speaking is to be direct with short one-line sentences to drive his point. Despite his high education as a graduate of Harvard Business School, he is not known to be adept at public speaking and the president himself has joked about his occasional misuse of the English language. He is considered to have less emotional appeal than his predecessor, President Clinton, who reached for hopes of the masses during the rising Emotional Cycle. What defines this president is his Physically-based strengths.
Dick Cheney: Intellectual.
The incumbent Vice-President comes from Wyoming, a state whose Eastern side lies in the Great Plains of North America, and whose Western side is in the Rocky Mountains, both or which are Trirhythmic regions. Both of these are considered here to by Trirhythmic regions (equally balanced in all Physical, Emotional and Intellectual energies). Mr. Cheney is known more for the content of his views than for the assertiveness of his personality. He argues points logically without taking opposition personally and he seems to favor a rational approach over emotional appeal. Mr. Cheney appears to offer a balance to Mr. Bush as he is a man of thought advising a man of action. Dick Cheney may in fact be Intellectually based.
The Democrat Candidates for President and Vice-President were John Kerry and John Edwards, respectively. Here is a analysis of what may be the styles of policies of these men.
John Kerry: Intellectual. Senator Kerry comes from Intellectually-based region of New England, namely, Massachusetts. His policies have favored the concept of greater government and increased legislation to improve the nation. He consistently opposed military build up and weapons development while promoting negotiation and a means for security. Mr. Kerry emphasized the need for planning and relied more on promoting his accomplishments than his popularity. The Senator's methods tend to be more Intellectual.
John Edwards: Emotional. Senator Edwards is from the Physo-Emotional region of The South, or Dixie, namely, North Carolina. He is well liked wherever he goes and he relies on personality to deliver with style rather than relying solely on substance. His training as a trial lawyer honed his speaking techniques and he knows how to appeal to a crowd. Among Mr. Edward's claim to leadership is that he cares about the people he is serving and he is optimistic about the future. The manner and appeal of Mr. Edwards may be more Emotional.
The Candidates & the Times
In this sections lies an analysis of the methods and styles used by the candidates and how they reflected or clashed with the times that are ever moving in Cycles.
George Bush emphasized the need for military strikes against terrorism and support for building up the armed forces. This resonated with public after the attacks of September 11, 2001, but history has also shown a pattern of building up and dismantling of military defenses that is consistent with the 28-year Physical Cycle. With this policy, Bush had favor with the public because of the Physical High Cycle.
Dick Cheney gained favor with the public who had seen little of him until the Vice-Presidential debates. He then supported his points with a wealth of statistics and information to define his policies and he referred to various examples to show why he uses them. Mr. Cheney appeared to be guided by objectives and backed by experience. The public was anxious to hear detail instead of more rhetoric as Mr. Cheney appealed to the Intellectual High Cycle.
Consequently, Bush / Cheney won the presidential election.
John Kerry relied heavily on his heroic military record as a decorated soldier in Viet Nam to demonstrate his fitness for command. This approach, however, drew from accomplishments of decades past while the general public was looking ahead. In the absence of any 3rd Qtr. Review (a period when the Cycle enters Low half and a reflection the previous High begins) an approach of looking back instead of forward proved to be a mistake. Senator Kerry repeatedly criticized the president's policies without offering positive alternatives, hoping that he would catch votes cast against the incumbent. This was failed a method for two reasons. First, the Emotional Cycle now is High, not Low. During a High people are motivated toward that which attracts them, and when it is Low, they are motivated away from the negative. Mr. Kerry use the negative approach to motivate the public but they weren't buying. They wanted to know what someone was for, not against, and complaints about negative campaigning used by both political parties echoed across the land. Secondly, after Mr. Kerry offered his criticisms he stated and repeated that he had a plan for the better without telling what that plan was. In this Intellectual High people are interested in detail, and in this Physical High, substance is demanded. Mr. Kerry offered little of either to support his plan. Instead, he thought that a believing public would fill in the voids as he played his cards close to his vest. In reality, the absence of substance and detail may have cost him the election.
John Edwards relied on style which is an effective method in an Emotional High, and even his critics said he is likeable. But Mr. Edwards took a back seat on outlining details of some of the points that he advocated as he seemed to not want to overshadow his running mate. While he addressed domestic issues that need attention, the public remain focused and determined to fight overseas. Also, history has shown that attention is placed outward in Cyclic High and drawn inward in a Low. A winning candidate would have to balance between domestic and foreign policy to be selected as leader. The Kerry / Edwards team saw that the president was perceived to have weaknesses on domestic issues and that moved in to fill the gap, but when they did so at the expense of focusing on the war with a clear plan they comprised their efforts. This was a mistake during a Physical High.
Conclusion
Strong & Weak Points of the Candidates come in the contrast of styles with the position of the Cycles.
Republican strengths: were military strengths in the Physical High, promotion of morality, faith based initiatives and defense of traditional marriage helped in the Emotional High, and advances in education such as the "no child left behind" program were in context with the Intellectual High.
Republican weakness: came with meager economic growth following a flat economy during a time of rising Cycles that normally brings economic expansion.
Democrat strengths: addressing concerns for health care and challenging changes in the tax code. But neither of these strengths were necessarily supported by the position of the Cycles.
Democrat weakness: came from changing and reversing stands on military issues, which runs counter to the Physical High. Appealing to fears that the president was bad for the country with claims that he might re-instate the draft (which the President denied), and stating that the post September 11 enactment of the Patriot Act might erode individual freedoms ran counter to the Emotional High because are people are not easily dissuaded by fear in a High, and they were demanding military reprisal during the Physical High. Failing to offer details of supposed plans countered public wishes to know more in the Intellectual High.
Also, heavy and repeated emphasis on Senator Kerry's war record in the 1960s drew from the past when Americans prefer to look ahead as is the case Cycles are are High (looking back comes in a Cyclical Low).
Overall: a Physical High requires substance and action, not pacifism. An Emotional High promotes positive outlooks while negativity is rejected. An intellectual High calls for answers in lieu of vague explanations. Add to this a Physo-Intellectual Double 1st Qtr. of Foundation, Coalescence and Precedents. That is, both the Physical Cycle and the Intellectual Cycle are in 1st Qtr. at the same time and this is when with people come together to unite behind new things (as opposed to the 4th Qtr. in the lower half with people go into entropy and dissipate). The words of George W. Bush were that he "wants to be a uniter, not a divider," as well as "we must fight the war on terror," and "things are getting better." He was elected president.
KDK
