So, history is marching on today the big show is over. Of course, its really not over. I think I would like to say there is a great irony in there someplace: election day is over but the election goes on, but honestly, there really is not one. If you think about it, 200 years ago, the election process would have taken weeks. Im not sure what has to do with anything, other than an inability on my part to not understand why we so desperately need the election over with right now. I do find it ironic that it is considered bad for the country to wait and count all the votes. God forbid we be patient. That, my friends, is consumer democracy: immediate results or anarchy! The rhetorical game that suggests those are the only two possibilities makes me sick. (It is also pretty disgusting how gladly we would disenfranchise our fellow citizens just because we are tired of politics apparently. Do we really deserve to choose our own government?)
Not surprising, I am not happy this morning. I am not happy, mostly, because it is pretty clear that Kerry lost. Bush won. There you go. We get four more years of a president that it is widely acknowledged as incompetent, reluctant to hear criticism, a poor manager of staff, militaristic, and frankly who is also a religious nutjob. Seriously.
Of course, I try not to be a doomsday prophet type (after all, living in a cave, not shaving, and caring around apocalyptic messages on sandwich board is just not very me). I try to remind myself that we have a federated system. I try to remember that there is still a Constitution, and that things could certainly be much worse. Right. There you go. There are some bright spots. Ken Salazaar beat the evil Pete Coors. Here in Illinois, we saw the beginning Barack Obamas brilliant career (by owning on the ridiculous, vile Alan Keyes). So, there are things to rally about.
Of course, that has to be tempered by the realization that Bush not has a chance to appoint up to four Supreme Court justices and wage war however he pleases, regardless of international approval or common sense.
But I am not sure if I would feel better even if Kerry had won.
This is not fair, and my mood is a bit glum, but I could not help but look at all of those Southern states last night. And the Western states too. It gave me a cold, hard feeling in my stomach. There is the West Coast, the Northeast, and the Upper Midwest. The rest of this country seriously sucks ass. What does it mean when the only sane places to live are Illinois, New York, and California?
I know that is not fair. Of course it is not: many of those people voted for Kerry. Even those who did not, I am sure some had legitimate reasons and I am sure they are very nice people otherwise. But they always vote Republican. Even if Kerry had won/wins/whatever, it does not change the fact that this election was close. And you wonder how: the President is a goofball, the war is going badly, and the economy is down the tubes. And still he wins. Despite this. Why?
(In a better mood, I might recall that 8 years ago, we elected Clinton. I might also take condolences that the election was close: suggesting there are lots of other rational folks out there. But I think, at a time like this, it is important to cry Fire!, be critical, and think seriously about the issues we are facing.)
I suppose there are lots of legitimate reasons about his message or about turnout or some other insipid crap. That is not what this election was really about, though, was it? We all know that. This was an election about fear and morals. And we have collectively decided that we prefer posturing about our big balls and passing judgment on other people. The Republicans have found their perpetual war (O Discordia! Welcome to Oceania motherfuckers.) against queers and the Muslim world that will allow themselves, for a good while, to posture as the strong, vital party. They have set up a nice argument: You know the GOP kicks terrorist ass and hates queers! Why take your chances on the party of dopers and pansies? And people buy that. (It seems like our citizenry is seriously lacking in the skills required for democracy: notably free, critical thought, creativity, objectivity, rationality, and being well informed. I suppose some of this is slanted, as my idea of good skills leads to a noticeably leftist stance. But Bush is not a conservative really hes a power hungry idealist who wants to shape the world into a twisted Anglo-centric market liberal playland. Going from that proposition, this was less an election about partisan ideology than about extremism and incompetence versus skill and rationality. Rationality lost, and madness has carried the day.)
Last night, I was watching MSNBC. One of the pundits/analysts/assholes on there noted that Kerry lost the South because he did not focus on faith enough. There was general agreement on this point. I say, if you are going to analyze politics, do it all the way: lets go Gonzo style like Hunter S. Thompson and the (albeit fictional) Spider Jerusalem. The South is practicing a politics of hate. Theyve done it for over a century now. Before it was black people. Now it is gay people and immigrants. Call it like it is, MSNBC. Do not blame Kerry for not being an insane religious freak. Blame the South for still living in a pre-modern quagmire. Our own reluctance to face our demons our dedication to a thin liberalism in the face of illiberal challengers is just sad. There are people out there who are not democrats (little-d), but we just tolerate that and encourage that as their own choice. Piss on them, before they bring down the whole damn ship.
So, maybe Im just bitter. Maybe I should remember my own pluralist values. I probably will. But this morning, I am pissed. I am pissed at a country that likes its politicians simple and its politics infused by God. Forty years ago, there was fear that John Kennedy would make policy based on what the Pope wanted. Bush today has more in common with the Pope than half of the country he is supposed to rule. What kind of fucked up progress is that?
This is not the end of the world. The system goes on hopefully. But I have a sense that things are going to be a little darker before they get a little brighter.
Not surprising, I am not happy this morning. I am not happy, mostly, because it is pretty clear that Kerry lost. Bush won. There you go. We get four more years of a president that it is widely acknowledged as incompetent, reluctant to hear criticism, a poor manager of staff, militaristic, and frankly who is also a religious nutjob. Seriously.
Of course, I try not to be a doomsday prophet type (after all, living in a cave, not shaving, and caring around apocalyptic messages on sandwich board is just not very me). I try to remind myself that we have a federated system. I try to remember that there is still a Constitution, and that things could certainly be much worse. Right. There you go. There are some bright spots. Ken Salazaar beat the evil Pete Coors. Here in Illinois, we saw the beginning Barack Obamas brilliant career (by owning on the ridiculous, vile Alan Keyes). So, there are things to rally about.
Of course, that has to be tempered by the realization that Bush not has a chance to appoint up to four Supreme Court justices and wage war however he pleases, regardless of international approval or common sense.
But I am not sure if I would feel better even if Kerry had won.
This is not fair, and my mood is a bit glum, but I could not help but look at all of those Southern states last night. And the Western states too. It gave me a cold, hard feeling in my stomach. There is the West Coast, the Northeast, and the Upper Midwest. The rest of this country seriously sucks ass. What does it mean when the only sane places to live are Illinois, New York, and California?
I know that is not fair. Of course it is not: many of those people voted for Kerry. Even those who did not, I am sure some had legitimate reasons and I am sure they are very nice people otherwise. But they always vote Republican. Even if Kerry had won/wins/whatever, it does not change the fact that this election was close. And you wonder how: the President is a goofball, the war is going badly, and the economy is down the tubes. And still he wins. Despite this. Why?
(In a better mood, I might recall that 8 years ago, we elected Clinton. I might also take condolences that the election was close: suggesting there are lots of other rational folks out there. But I think, at a time like this, it is important to cry Fire!, be critical, and think seriously about the issues we are facing.)
I suppose there are lots of legitimate reasons about his message or about turnout or some other insipid crap. That is not what this election was really about, though, was it? We all know that. This was an election about fear and morals. And we have collectively decided that we prefer posturing about our big balls and passing judgment on other people. The Republicans have found their perpetual war (O Discordia! Welcome to Oceania motherfuckers.) against queers and the Muslim world that will allow themselves, for a good while, to posture as the strong, vital party. They have set up a nice argument: You know the GOP kicks terrorist ass and hates queers! Why take your chances on the party of dopers and pansies? And people buy that. (It seems like our citizenry is seriously lacking in the skills required for democracy: notably free, critical thought, creativity, objectivity, rationality, and being well informed. I suppose some of this is slanted, as my idea of good skills leads to a noticeably leftist stance. But Bush is not a conservative really hes a power hungry idealist who wants to shape the world into a twisted Anglo-centric market liberal playland. Going from that proposition, this was less an election about partisan ideology than about extremism and incompetence versus skill and rationality. Rationality lost, and madness has carried the day.)
Last night, I was watching MSNBC. One of the pundits/analysts/assholes on there noted that Kerry lost the South because he did not focus on faith enough. There was general agreement on this point. I say, if you are going to analyze politics, do it all the way: lets go Gonzo style like Hunter S. Thompson and the (albeit fictional) Spider Jerusalem. The South is practicing a politics of hate. Theyve done it for over a century now. Before it was black people. Now it is gay people and immigrants. Call it like it is, MSNBC. Do not blame Kerry for not being an insane religious freak. Blame the South for still living in a pre-modern quagmire. Our own reluctance to face our demons our dedication to a thin liberalism in the face of illiberal challengers is just sad. There are people out there who are not democrats (little-d), but we just tolerate that and encourage that as their own choice. Piss on them, before they bring down the whole damn ship.
So, maybe Im just bitter. Maybe I should remember my own pluralist values. I probably will. But this morning, I am pissed. I am pissed at a country that likes its politicians simple and its politics infused by God. Forty years ago, there was fear that John Kennedy would make policy based on what the Pope wanted. Bush today has more in common with the Pope than half of the country he is supposed to rule. What kind of fucked up progress is that?
This is not the end of the world. The system goes on hopefully. But I have a sense that things are going to be a little darker before they get a little brighter.
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Now, granted, that's probably because I a) wasn't near the border of anything except Canada, and so immigration was a smaller and more idiosyncratic issue and b) the Republicans want cheap labor with few rights, but still.
I like your ideas on nonviolence - is there a paper I could read? Actually, I just commented to prodigalsaint that we needed some way of protesting the citizenry... sounds like your ideas have potential for thinking of new tactics.