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The election's over, and conservatives have a lot of work to do
Kevin O'Brien
Plain Dealer Columnist
On Tuesday, a majority of Americans promoted Barack Obama from the political fantasy league to the real thing.
His election should end the utter nonsense about this being a racist country. (It won't, of course, because "racism" will be such a convenient reason to dismiss any criticism of him.)
Me: Oh, of course. Because if a black man is elected president, this year, after having every possible slur slung against him beforehand, it proves once and for all that America was NEVER a racist country, ever, or if it was, certainly isn't anymore. All better!
But criticism there will be, because starting very soon, the man who has spent the last two years raising expectations will have to make the transition from saying things to doing things.
Me: That's right. And some of us are looking forward to it. That's why we voted for him.
Starting Jan. 20, 2009, President Obama can no longer be all things to all people. His "yes" and his "no" will have real consequences. "Present" will no longer be an option.
Me: And I'm sure he'll deal with that just fine.
He will have to make decisions - something he has never, ever done, and in fact has actively avoided -
Me: Yeah. I mean, it's not as if United States senators or lawyers or community organizers ever have to make any decisions.
and he might even have to stand by some of them.
Me: And Lord knows, he's shown no sign of THAT yet.
Not all blame can be credibly shifted. Not every word can be declared out of context.
Me: I know. John McCain just proved that, didn't he?
The media's enormous investment in Obama guarantees him a long, long, long honeymoon.
Me: Oh really? Is that why some of your fellow wingnuts have already started "Impeach Obama" Web sites?
Everything can still be "Bush's fault" for a long time to come - maybe even through the midterm election.
Me: And? You think Bush's influence can be swept away overnight, with the wave of a hand? When you're waist deep in manure, it takes a little time to muck out the stables. Unless you're Hercules...Oh, I keep forgetting. It's not as if Republicans are still blaming everything bad on Bill Clinton, who hasn't been in office for eight years. Is it?
What will not last as long is the peculiar aggregation of the elite and the aggrieved that put him in office.
Me: Yep, that's right--I mean, it's not like there's a REASON to be aggrieved right now. And damn him, anyway, for coalescing both rich and poor to vote for him! It ruined our whole "latte liberal" meme! Now the best we can say is that if you voted for him, you're either a latte liberal or a welfare queen!
Hollywood got its man,
Me: Not Jon Voight. Or that lesser Baldwin. Or Chuck Norris. Or...
but if he acts aggressively enough to suit Oliver Stone and Michael Moore, he'll alienate independent voters, whose view of America is far more positive than his own.
Me: Oh, is it really? Must be why so many of them voted for Obama--because they think everything's so hunky-dory.
ACORN got its man,
Me: Oh. So it wasn't America who elected Obama. It was "Mickey Mouse." Or maybe this is just code for "Those pissed-off impoverished N-words who never should have even been registered to vote got their man."
but its voters-for-hire will be disappointed
Me: What?!? ACORN PAID people to vote for Obama?!? And dammit, I voted for him for FREE!! I'm going to their headquarters and demand my check RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!!!
when they find that the freebies they're expecting don't materialize in satisfying quantities.
Me: And they're getting free stuff too?? Dayum!! I've been ripped OFF!! I don't care how satisfying the quantities are--just gimme those freebies!!
As a matter of political strategy, the Democrats need the poor and downtrodden to be poor and downtrodden. So poor and downtrodden they will remain.
Me: Ah, I see. It's in the DEMOCRATS' best interest for people to be poor and downtrodden. It's not like it's in the Republicans' best interests to persuade the poor and downtrodden that trickle-down economics will eventually raise their boats too, so that they will keep voting for Republicans even though their own lives never seem to improve. Nah.
Maybe - just maybe - some of them will figure out that they're being used.
Me: Um, Kevin, I think they just DID figure out they were being used--only not by the Democrats.
The class warriors and the practitioners of the politics of envy got their man.
Me: Because if you're a decent person, you'll recognize that some people just DESERVE food, clothing and shelter, and others don't!
American business will suffer accordingly, and will pass that suffering along to employees and customers, proving once again that the trickle-down effect is not just an economic theory, but an inescapable truth that applies equally to prosperity and pain.
Me: That's right. Kevin warns "Don't even try to improve the lot of the middle class, because Big Business will get you for that."
And what of all those voters who looked at the blank slate that is Barack Obama and projected onto him whatever they desired? They got the man who let them all believe that he is their man.
Me: And the politician is to be blamed if people project onto him what they want him to be? Isn't that sort of natural? Isn't that what most politicians kind of hope happens? Don't they all have some transitioning to do when they actually have to be what they are and stand by it, and those who projected their personal fantasies on them have to wake up to the reality that they're dealing with a real person and not just a personal fantasy? There's always a difference between the wedding and the marriage, pal.
He can't be, of course.
Me: Nope. And neither can anyone else.
On Inauguration Day, the limitations kick in. Those damnable choices will have to be made. No rhetoric will be lofty enough to suffice when action is required. "Change," if there's to be any, will have to take on discernable form.
Me: And the exact thing could be said of a certain Senator McCain who adopted the slogan "Change Is Coming."
On Inauguration Day, Obama will face his "now what?" moment.
Me: Just like every other president before him. And your point?? Is it "Trust me, Barack, you really don't want to be president--it's way too much trouble--you actually have to act and have people judge you on your actions instead of just making speeches and promises. You should leave it in the hands of, um, the guy I wanted to be president"?
For those of us who opposed his election, that moment is already here.
Me: Yeah, baaaaybee. And boy, is it sweet!
What shall we conservatives do?
Me: Well, I'd offer a few suggestions, but...
Well, as Maggie Thatcher once said to George H.W. Bush, this is no time to go wobbly.
Me: In your case, Kevin, too late.
A majority of our countrymen have just made clear that they don't understand the moral, social, political and economic underpinnings of America.
Me: Ah. I see, we didn't vote for Obama because we are intelligent people who see things differently from Kevin. We did it because we don't UNDERSTAND. We don't understand how immoral, antisocial, and apolitical it was to vote for him. Not to mention what a poor understanding of economics we must have. I mean, if we understood economics, we'd realize that everything is just fine right now with the economy, but now with Obama, it's all gonna go to...um, wait.
Educating them is going to be a huge job.
Me: I dunno, Kevin. I don't think pupils learn well from ignorant teachers.
Fortunately, conservatives like to work.
Me: Ah, of course. The old "Everyone else is lazy, but conservatives actually LIKE to work" bit. Nice.
What we must not do is surrender our principles in panic or despair, or for some fleeting partisan gain.
Me: So true. It's not as if John McCain or any other conservative sold his or her principles or ideals down the river recently in hopes of any partisan gain. We must follow our role models!
Rather, we need to tackle each challenge, each issue, each day with these words of Abraham Lincoln in mind:
Me: What?? Ronald Reagan has fallen out of favor with you guys??
"I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong."
Me: Yeah, but there's one catch to that...if you live by that principle, you won't be a modern Republican anymore. Either that, or you just can't live by the light that you have because YOU DON'T HAVE ONE.
Put aside vindictiveness and bitterness.
Me: Because Lord knows, Kevin's not vindictive or bitter. Nosirree!
Our candidate ran a poor campaign and lost the election. It's done.
Me: Finally, Kevin admits the truth. If only he'd left it there.
Now, stand for what's right, in season and out of season, and have faith that no matter whether it is rewarded by victories in elections, that steadfastness will be rewarded with the knowledge that we have done our best.
Me: Well, Kevin, it's good to hear that you've finally decided to lay down your obstinacy and join us. Welcome to the reality-based--
Above all, be of good cheer. We have a country to save, and until the last conservative draws his final breath, that will be our brief.
Me: Hurray! Kevin's finally seen the light! We must work to save our country, until the last conservative has drawn his final breath (or at least the ones like Kevin has been) and it is, at last, safe!!
Surrender never saved a country,
Me: Which is why we won't be surrendering, Kevin.
and moping never won a convert.
Me: I'm so glad you've seen the light, Kevin. For a second there, I thought this column was all ABOUT moping. Whew!!
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