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Arthur - 2004-11-03 13:12:57
Urggh. Kerry conceded. Bush never would've conceded early, and neither would Nader -- without all the votes being in and counted. John Edwards said they would wait until every vote was counted. From now on I'm voting Nader or Green, no more Democrats -- they don't fight, they just roll over. I loathe to think about this country in four years....
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Tom Ronca - 2004-11-03 14:04:58
I agree with and take what P. has to say to heart -- but just to be on the safe side, you might want to file your exit visa now.
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BabyDaddy - 2004-11-03 16:55:48
Sorry. Can't latch on to your sunny outlook. It has just been made clear to me I live in a country that fears gay marriage more than terrorist attacks. I am ill with despair.
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Baby Party - 2004-11-03 17:17:12
I would like to quote Joshua Micah Marshall from today's Talking Points:
"I remember talking to Simon Rosenberg, the head of the New Dem Network, at the Democratic convention last summer. You'll remember, he and his group were profiled in the Times magazine around that time. The article, in brief, was about plans to create a Democratic-leaning counter-establishment along the lines of what Republicans did two generations ago -- with an alternative media, activist groups, organized political giving, in short a political infrastructure.
He told me he thought it would take ten years to accomplish. And I told him my one worry was that it could all be strangled in its crib if Kerry didn't win.
Well, here we are. And this is the test for people who care about this kind of politics and these sorts of values -- making sure that what has been started is not allowed to falter."
Here's the link to the whole thing: http://pcarino.diaryland.com/comments/1099502252.html
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Baby Party - 2004-11-03 17:19:53
No, I mean here's the link:
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2004_10_31.php#003927
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Babaar - 2004-11-03 23:29:42
Think this is bad, check out this map where you can look at the past electoral votes. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2004/politics101/politics101_ecmap.html
Check out 1984, the last time a fear-mongering Republican got re-elected and look at the sea of red. In light of that Kerry did fine. He got his message out and I predict Bush's second term will be met with far more scrutiny now that the media has finally started to sour on him.
America looks ugly today. We showed our worst face to the world and I expect we will not be rewarded for it. Those of us who check in on the facts every once in a while instead of reacting purely on our gut know that Bush is not up to the challenges that he will face in the next four years. And yeah, it'll get worse before it gets better, but it will get better. (Check out the calming sea of blue on the 1992 electoral map.)
And a hint to the Democrats (and Republicans too), next time get a viable candidate. I don't like the fact that our presidential race has turned into a personality contest, but since the citizens of the U.S. don't seem to be too high on the I.Q. scale as a whole, you have to work with it. I did some canvassing and people on both sides, Democrat and Republican generally had no idea why they were voting for who they were voting for, what the issues were, what the choices were, or had any idea that their choice would have consequences in the world that could make thier lives better or worse. To quote one fellow in Kenosha, WI whose door I knocked on, "I'm voting for Bush because I don't like the Republicans." Me:"Well, then I feel you should know that Bush is the Republican candidate." Guy: "Oh, well then I don't like the Democrats."
Perhaps Churchill put it best in saying that, "The best argument against Democracy is a five minute conversation will an average voter." Nevertheless, it's what we have to work with so buck up and get to it. 2006 is right around the corner and we need to get back the Senate and House and check the damage that Bush can do.
babaar
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2f - 2004-11-04 00:24:20
I am, in fact, trying not to give in to cynicism. But it's damned hard - given that (as someone above implies) people think "moral issues" means gay marriage and not people being blown to bits in Iraq. And given that most Bush voters don't even correctly know Bush's positions (I'd cite a link, but I'm tired - I think it's linked from www.cursor.org, though.) Still, it's true that nearly half the country rejected Bush - and that's good. That's something to build on. And the Dems have to stop thinking (loath as I am to admit this) that intelligence and experience mean much. The Republicans, it seems, have nearly come to regard the president as a figurehead for their policy - so I dunno, maybe the Dems *should* put up Al Franken in '08. Or some hot babe in a bikini. Whatever works. Shit - I'm tired.
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Paula - 2004-11-04 05:50:32
making sure that what has been started is not allowed to falter
Yes! And I believe this whole mess could serve to radicalize people, make passive Democrats/Liberals more active in seeing their vision become a reality. 'Course I'm concerned that many Dem/Liberal voters and activists this time around didn't have a vision except for just wanting to get rid of Bush. That's not a vision you can really build on.
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