Post your somewhat resigned, philosophical musings here.

[Ron Green]

As for me, I have enjoyed learning about what America was supposed to be (different from what I was taught as a child), and how its promise was almost fulfilled, but not quite. Because, as Hobbes wrote, the natural state of Man is fearful and brutish: a jungle. We're just sliding back into the natural beastly state, as found in the free and unfettered market. Government, that bright ideological construct, has been effectively taken over by this market, and bent to the purposes of the few, just as it always will be. The right wing have managed their ignoramuses (ignorami?) more effectively than the left.

At least Bush will have Iraq as his Vietnam.

[Bandit]

1. "At least Bush will have Iraq as his Vietnam."

If only it would stop there. I fear for Iran and Syria and Korea and the world in general. Fascism is on the move.

[ilovenicepeople]

10. You forgot Canada

:scared: :cry: :scared:

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

As an old drunk, I can say with firm conviction...

Until you face a real and incontravertable crisis in your life, something so deep and fundamental and overwhealming, in extremis, you don't make the changes necessary for stability.

We are not there yet. Not by a long shot. 911 was just the first punch in a barroom brawl.

Things are gonna have to get a lot worse, at home. Here. And they will. You know that they will.

[Ron Green]

5. As another over-the-hiller, I'm trying to figure out if I have the energy

left in me to "fight the good fight." My house is paid for, I'm out of debt...maybe I should just kick back and hope for no capital gains taxes.

[Southsideirish]

2. History will write his epitaph.

[Feathered Fish]

3. Smells like 1972

Perhaps we can hope that the government itself will implode because of corruption and stupidity. It's possible, but all those opposed to Bush and his gang of thugs must work hard.

[eris]

4. I'm ashamed that a portion of my sorrow is pride

My whole family is Republican. My sister runs a republican PAC. I don't want to show my face. Its bad enough I'm in a Red State. That's so wrong. My main sorrow should be for the good of the nation. It is, I'm truly worried about the damage he'll do now that he doesn't have to worry about re-election.

Looking for the silver lining: I can keep my anti-Bush bumper stickers and maybe get more. *sigh*

Ugh, the woman in the cubicle next to me is gloating on the phone to some Repub buddy. I wanna go home.

[mountebank]

11. Thanks for the post. There's A LOT of pride.

I think we need to work to get over that. For those of us that were "whole people" committed to a progressive cause before the election, this is the biggest obstacle. To take it on the chin and move on. It's discouraging, sure. But it's not the end.

[Bryan]

6. In a way, it's almost a relief to have it over with

I've been paranoid and distracted for over a month. It's almost a "now that the diagnosis has come down, we can now focus on the disease" situation.

[LizW]

7. I know there's no crying in politics, but

the Unfiltered the gang just about did me in. They ended the show promising that they would be there for us for as long as it takes, that this is "the first day". Chuck D said "Time to go to work." And they played Ray Charles' "America the Beautiful".

So maybe there's a little bit of crying in politics.

[eris]

8. Imagine how Kerry felt

having to speak to Bush and concede. I'm sure he feels much worse than we do. We have the luxury of being as mad as we want. He had to be civil.

[Touchdown]

9. Just posted this in the LGBT thread...

I am their enemy, not terrorists.
I am their excuse for their situation, not corporate hegemony.
I am to blame for their all of their problems, not tax shelters for the rich.
I am the cause of their malaise, not Wal-Martization.
I caused 9/11 (remember Fatwell?) not a Prez lying down on the job.

I am gay, and am the reason why this country is fucked up. So I'll think about leaving it, and give them what they want. I don't want to be where I'm not wanted.

Growing up, and serving for 3 years as a soldier, I learned love for my country, regardless of it's blemishes. At near 40 years old, what was all that about? How is this patriotism worth anything? Why did I care so much? Why do I still care? I have given my first 40 years to this country, and have gotten NOTHING BACK! What's it worth? Why should I care anymore? Why should I spend the rest of my life dodging windmills? 35 years of Donohue, Oprah, books, lobbying, education, visibility, and they still think I have a sexuality choice. They will never change, so I have to.

[Ron Green]

13. Thanks for a very heartfelt and eloquent post...

I think that, as long as the RW can maintain a fear-based culture in this country, you will be demonized, just as races and other minorities have been cast as "the enemy." The fact that every human being carries a complex sexuality will ensure that gays will be a ready target for these fearmongers. Although popular culture has ameliorated much of the "other-ness" and fear in the past few years, the perceived licentiousness of the pop culture (and, to be sure, much of it is vapid and crude) will give the RW the ammunition they need.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. Not my philosophical musings but very apt.

When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall -- think of it, ALWAYS.

- Gandhi

[dryan]

17. Some personal musings...

I just realized that this is the 12th presidential campaign that I have witnessed: 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004. In 60, 64, 76, 92, and 96 I was elated. In the other years I was disappointed but you know what I got up the next day (sometimes I never went to bed) and survived to fight another day. I personally think that except for a few stumbles (Swiftboats) Sen. John Kerry did a magnificient job as our nominee. I think he ran a great campaign, he had a wonderful running mate, he raised a lot of money, he got good coverage that for once was pretty balanced. All the elements were there. I think that the Democratic party was the most united it ever was. Which is saying something in itself! Unfortunately, it was the other side just had more of everything! I am not a very introspective person but I think that political self-flagation gets you nowhere.

Our country is more divided than ever. We can either stay in the game, be the loyal opposition, or be in a stupor for the next four years and get runover again. Now which is it?

Love you all,
Debbe Ryan

[shrike]

14. Never was a country founded on such beautiful ideals

And never has a country betrayed those ideals so completely.

[Greenbeard]

15. Time to move...........

but not away from the United States. Instead we move to the cities within the states that suppport our beliefs. Head to the Northeast or the Northwest. Come together. Raise our voices loud. Spread ideas. Be a guiding beacon of light to other like-minded progressives across the country. If we want change four years from now we have to come together in large numbers in centralized locations. It is hard to get support for a progressive message in many states today. Especially the southeast. By coming together in the more progressive areas of the nation it will be easier to begin movements and produce leaders. We must produce leaders. We need more Barak Obama's. The hour is growing late. The Revoultion has already begun and right now the far-right is winning.

Wake Up America!

[Ron Green]

16. It's never going to be Utopia, is it?

It's always a compromise, trying to find the middle. The problem is that the middle has been moved so far that people have lost their way. This election was stolen only in that the baser natures of many voters were sufficiently appealed to. Democracy is a "high-minded" concept, whereas fear, war and "family values" (as practiced by the RW) reside in the lower chakras, if you will. How to best move enough people back toward the true "middle way?"

[Damn Hippie]

18. I am going back to the Greens

There I can be on the losing side for a lot less money and effort with much lower expectations of actually winning elections.