How long will it take for the scars from this year’s presidential campaign to be healed? They are deep, raw and ragged, and it is unlikely they will be forgotten or forgiven for many years.

Hate and bitterness seem to be the primary motivations for a good number of Democrats in their attitudes and actions against President Bush. It doesn’t appear an overwhelming number of Democrats think John Kerry is the most well-liked, best possible, most qualified individual to carry the Democrats’ flag into the presidential election.

Those sharing this opinion are putting aside questions they may have about their standard-bearer’s excellence or offering reasons why he would be a great president. Rather, they are concentrating on attacking Bush and doing anything to damage, weaken or destroy his chances to be re-elected. Nothing is out of bounds, whether it concerns accuracy or good taste.

Why is there this obsession to destroy Bush?

Is it the manner in which the 2000 election ended with the Florida vote count? Is it Bush’s manner and actions, his policy on Iraq or the reasons he gave for launching the Iraqi military action? Is it the loss of American lives in Iraq or the direction of the war on terror? Is there some connection to his policies on the environment? Or perhaps there is some lingering unhappiness with his father’s administration, those he has selected to serve in his Cabinet, or because he is a member of a powerful political family. Is it his service with the National Guard and that he didn’t serve in Vietnam? Maybe there are some who do not like his wife, Laura.

There is a deep, deep dislike — if not hatred — of Bush.

In the eyes of his opponents, he cannot do anything good and must be removed from the White House.

This is not to suggest Bush is a saint with no weaknesses or shortcomings. He has made mistakes — some the public knows about and surely some he hopes the public never learns. But he is a decent individual, as is Kerry. Their voting records in the U.S. Senate or as governor are open to inspection. Their military records and their personal behavior have been examined time and time again, with their opponents digging as deep as they can to discover faults and blemishes.

Democrats are sure to say there has been the same anger and unhappiness among Republicans in their dislike not just of Kerry, but presidents Clinton, Carter, Johnson, Kennedy and Truman. Granted, there was strong GOP opposition to these Democratic presidents, and many raised the “character” issue in the Clinton campaign. There were questions of his efforts to avoid the draft and his personal conduct, but nothing was as bitter and deep-seated, even the impeachment effort, as the efforts to destroy Bush.

Millions of dollars have been spent to attack Bush, with some placing the figure at more than $65 million. Money, which has been used by both Democrats and Republicans, from the “527” category is the greatest in history. Added to this has been the Michael Moore film that is highly critical of Bush and contains many misstatements.

Bush and his aides have not protested or asked that these attacks be shelved.

On the first of their three ads, the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth spent less than $1 million. The group, with more than 200 veterans, many highly decorated and who also served on Swift boats, questioned Kerry’s Vietnam experience and statements after his return to the United States.

Kerry supporters immediately called for the Swift boat veterans’ messages to be pulled from television ads and claimed many individuals in the message were lying. Other ads have questioned Kerry’s voting record in the Senate, but few, if any, have accused him of being a liar or unpatriotic.

Republican strategists are trying their best to defeat Kerry, and there are sure to be rogue groups in the GOP ranks, just as there are in the Democratic Party, who try to skirt election-funding laws.

What is this hatred doing to the country? What encouragement does this provide for those who want to damage or destroy the United States and what it stands for?

Will it encourage talented, able, visionary young men and women to consider careers in elective politics or will it turn them off, making them believe there are better ways to serve and help the nation?

How are decent, honest, well-meaning Democrats and Republicans supposed to react to the falsehoods and accusations? What is the reaction to Friday’s news reports that records of Bush’s service in the National Guard may have been falsified? How would that compare to the widely denounced Nixon’s dirty tricks?

Is the public supposed to react by saying, “Well, all is fair in love, war and politics,” and smile and shake hands after the election? Or are the wounds so deep and the bitterness, disappointment and anger so fresh they will not be forgotten or forgiven? Will the deep divisions in this country grow deeper and wider?

The election of a president is terribly important, for so many reasons, but at what price? How is the campaign we are now witnessing damaging the country?

The standard of decency, good manners, fairness, honesty and playing by the rules seems to become lower and lower, election by election. What will the election of 2008 or 2012 be like? Will the excesses of this year’s election by both parties and their shadowy supporters bring about more rules to try to curb the excesses, or will people figure out a way to bypass regulations, with future campaigns becoming even uglier, meaner and more dishonest?

It is not a pleasant prospect.