Dude! Where's my platform?
If you are looking for a rant that George W. Bush "stole" the election in 2004 (or in 2000, for that matter) you have come to the wrong place. Move along now, nothing to see here.
My contention is that George W. Bush IS a liberal, in the strictest sense of the word. Please note that I didn't say "Democrats" won anything, I said Liberals.
The Reader's Companion to American History says that the modern definition of "Liberal" in American politics comes from FDR. Quoting from that source, "New Deal liberalism, Roosevelt explained, "is plain English for a changed concept of the duty and responsibility of government toward economic life.""
Liberalism is characterized by a strong central government (Federal, of course) that tries to "correct" economic imbalances. Beyond the New Deal, we find that Liberal administrations give Federal agencies power of the economic sector and supersede States rights. Some of the tools of Liberal administrations include: deficit spending, Federally funded social and educational programs and attempts to override State laws. We have the New Deal, Kennedy's Camelot, LBJ's Great Society.
If Liberalism is defined as an approach to solving the problems of our society, rather than a particular set of solutions, then I offer to you that the Bush administration meets these same criteria.
We have a "tax and spend" budget, complete with a growing deficit. One could not characterize it as "fiscally conservative." We have the No Child Left Behind educational package, where States are accountable to the Federal government. Currently, each of the 50 States sets it's own policy about Gay Marriage. That may soon change
The Liberal Presidents of the past might not agree with President Bush's policies, but they would certainly agree with his methods.