Despite all of our fantasies to the contrary, it doesn’t look as though John Kerry’s going to be handed the key to the White House when all the ballots in Ohio are done being counted. As much as the evidence might suggest that there were widespread fuckups, and perhaps even foul play, it doesn’t seem as though there are enough votes in question to change the outcome this time. At least that’s the opinion of the mainstream press, who, after taking a lot of heat from irate bloggers this past week, finally decided to comment on the allegations today. Salon, the Boston Globe, and others, while acknowledging widespread problems with the election, dismissed the idea of organized, systematic fraud. I suppose there’s still the possibility that someone could come forward with a smoking gun, but at this point it looks doubtful.
So, with that, I think I am finally starting to make my way from Denial to the next stage of grief, Anger. And, it doesn’t look as though I’ll be alone when I get there. It seems as though there is evidence of anger everywhere, from the new websites that are cropping up, like Fuck the South dotcom, to the occasional posts on Craigslist, like this one from New York:
“I would like to fight a Bush supporter to vent my anger. If you are one, and have a fiery streek, please contact me so we can meet and physically fight. I would like to beat the shit out of you.”
OK, I just looked up the five stages of grief (I only knew the first two), and, after Denial and Anger, we have Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. As I hate Depression, I’m hoping that Anger lasts a good long while. I’d much rather be angry… Speaking of being angry, have any of you given any thought as to how you’re going to celebrate Bush’s inauguration? I’d been thinking that perhaps taking to the streets in DC might be called for, but then I just read that it’s likely we’ll have 4,000 troops on the ground in DC by then. (Just think of how many troops they’d need if Bush didn’t have such a clear mandate…) And, if the tanks that rolled though the protest in LA yesterday were any indication of what might be in store, I think that maybe me and the family should just stay here at home (being angry with each other).
So, back to Anger. Just in case there were any of you who were still waiting on the Denial side of the chasm, I have a news story to share… Just now, skimming the Suburban Guerrilla site, I came across a mention of yet another new right wing website. This one is called, Rat Out a Church dotorg. At this site, you can make a formal complaint against liberal-leaning churches that appear to be mixing politics with religion. Of course, this seems a bit hypocritical to me, given the way that the evangelicals and the Catholics mobilized their people for Bush in this election, but the folks on the right aren’t about to just rest on their laurels. No, they’re going to revoke the tax-exempt status of any church that doesn’t share their worldview. (I personally agree that any church that dabbles in politics should lose their 501c3 status, but my sense is that there were many more churches pushing their parishioners to vote for Bush this year than for Kerry.) It seems to me that this is just one more instance of the, “Kick them while their down” mindset that’s so prevalent on the right.
OK, I can’t think about Anger any more tonight. Let me just suggest one last thing before I go. If you are feeling angry, and if you’re looking for a target to direct that anger toward, try the businesses that advertise on FOX News.
* This post was brought to you by The Museum of the Middle Class.
8 Comments
I love this stuff. Nothing gives me more pleasure than watching the Democrats digging themselves further & further & further into a whole. You guys are making the elections a bit like putting carl lewis in the special olympics. Keep up the great work & thanks for an easy four more years!
He’s right, maybe we need to get together as a whole more.
– “I’m Carl Lewis!”
The word is “hole,” like in “asshole.”
I hope that helps, Tank.
-Tony
As the Right’s attempt to boycott all things French loses steam, US brands are taking a beating in Europe:
“The warnings, which were made in May-June of the current year, are coming true to life now. Clothing company Gap closed its stores in Germany and announced about the 10-percent reduction of its sales volumes on the European market. Disneyland in Paris is suffering losses and is in vital need of support from its American headquarters. Wal-Mart, the world’s largest network of supermarkets, is currently suffering losses in Germany for the first time in history.”
-http://english.pravda.ru/world/20/91/365/14508_usgoods.html
I have a copy of a new documentary about Elizabeth Kubler Ross I have to review. Linette and I were going to watch it together. I’ll make sure you’re home. Or whome, if you want to invite that guy Tank.
So Mark, you’re a smart guy. What the hell should we do?
I started a book the day after the day after the election — a lot of it is about psychology (charisma and personality variables, physical attractiveness and perceptions of competence, the psychology of persuasion, decision-making and heuristics, the social psychology of anti-intellectualism), but I also wanted to include a chapter or two about policy.
What do you think the Dems should do? Go more moderate? Less moderate? Do a better job of articulating our values, playing the GOP as a party of big government (e.g. the party wants to get into your bedroom, it wants to take away your rights just because someone thinks you might be a terrorist? Do you think we need to go more toward Nader (a friend of mine does; I disagree)? What?
I think that the campaign for the next election needs to start now, and clearly, the Dems need some new ideas.
Oh, Tank, lest you feel left out, I should have said, “the Dems need some whelp”.
I think the reason we lost was because Def Leppard failed to “Rock the Vote” this year, and left it to a bunch of no talent assclowns like John Tesh and Michael Bolton…. although no one seemed to notice when Britney Spears said, “He’s our president and we should do what he says.” Rock the vote? More like Pop the Vote. yea.