I Cogitate
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A Recovering Democrat's Mantra
Well, the election news is certainly bleak but to steal a line--after getting a few days of sleep and powering through all five of the Kübler-Ross stages of grief (with a brief stop by #6 drinking!), here's some thoughts:
I'm wondering if our west coast, upper east coast and upper midwest can form some sort of an association or confederation and leave the evangelicals to cannibalize one another? Can you see it: "I'm a true Christian...No, you're the wannabe, I am the real Christian here--and so on until the actual test of Christian-ness becomes producing stigmata on demand.
Also, I'm thinking that from this day on, the only U.S. soldiers sent to Iraq should be drawn from Red Republican states but I know that the Mess O' Potamia in Iraq isn't the fault of the boots on the ground there. And maybe it's righteous that GWB has to clean up his own mess but, of course, how many more innocents will have to die and be maimed in Iraq before "victory" is proclaimed and democracy is "alive and well"? It sorta makes you feel like being at an auction: do I hear 125K? Who can bid 130K? 140K, yes! Going once, going twice, sold for 140K, and might I say a steal for the man in the white house.
We are also a nation split over cultural values. God, guns, gays and abortion divide us. Morality and fear, or what I call the Christian jihadism and the 'Daddy, protect me from the bad guys' synapses won the race for GWB.
The conundrum is how to counteract such imprinting? Once such 'truths' are 'tattooed' into the pysche, as Karl Rove so cleverly manages, debate becomes worthless and reasoning fails as the removal laser.
And the Republicans never wavered from script:
- the terrorist-around-the-corner cranial bludgeoning of the American voting populace and
- the heathen/homo/baby killer menace throughout Christendom, a la the 1940s and 1950s with the Red (check for Commies under every bed) Scare.
Wait, a picture is forming in my mind. I'm seeing GWB coming mano-a- mano with a terrorist. Oh, what to do? When all else fails, do the familiar. Grab a copy of "My Pet Goat" and freeze in place for seven minutes of manly action until further instructions from staff.
The Republicans proudly and effectively go for the visceral, achieving such direct hits by speaking, writing and probably breathing in absolutes. Far too often Democrats lamely attempt to counter with words, lots of words, but ones that never penetrate, let alone sever the pitbull-like Republican grip on the hearts and minds of the primitive. The Democrats can no longer ignore that the shallow end of the logic and reason pool is blossoming with inhabitants. Absolutism has triumphed.
Polling results indicated that college-educated voters went primarily Democratic---high school graduates veered Republican. I can't quite couch it without seemingly stereotyping (there I go again---speak in nothing but absolutes McCarthy---it's what works!) but it appears rational thought requires a certain level of exposure to and acceptance of critical thinking. And jawdrop-reacting as it seems, GWB's governing-by-his-gut style is the same approach employed by the majority of citizens in this country when voting.
Thanks to Will and with one slight change--to think perchance to dream--is not a viable political strategy.
Again with some stereotyping (damn, going absolute is harder than I thought), the Democrats, to their electoral discredit, generally want to be inclusive, to listen to varying viewpoints with respect and tolerance--except when ideology is presented with an accept-it-or-damn-you
cover sheet.
The Republicans simply want power and control, by whatever means necessary, making no bones or apologies about it.
Unfortunately, the chooser of principles over pragmatism is usually honored with a nice eulogy or a tearful going-away party and a fond remembrance years later followed by a 'whatever happened to...?'
Should the Democrats resort to the devastingly destructive 'whispering campaigns' a tool used so effectively by Karl Rove? If so, here's a start: did you hear about GWB and Condi Rice, in the West Wing, with a candlestick? Pass it on.
Of course, all of this may just so much pity party handwringing and an over-reaction since it was actually a very close race, with the state of Ohio tipping the electoral college in GWB's favor. Maybe those Bush-voting unemployed Buckeye Staters should sign up for an Iraqi vacation courtesy of Uncle Sam? How about those Cincinnati-based Holy Rollers quickening their own personal journey towards The Rapture by volunteering to storm Falluja? I'm sure Zell Miller would lead the charge.
I guess I'm getting the hang of this absolutist thing
So, f**k the Republicans.
Hey, Dick Cheney was right. I feel better.
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