Post Election Blues
Some surely have noted that I have not posted for some days now. The main reason for this is that I am in mourning for the nation's future. I didn't want to post the verbal equivalent of an outraged and disappointed scream. Until I have something useful and interesting to say, I've decided to say nothing.The one thing that I think useful to say is that we Democrats aren't wrong. Our ideals aren't out of date. Our values aren't out of touch. 59 million Americans were wrong, for a number of more or less defensible reasons, to vote for the worst President since Grant - maybe ever. We should not feel, as we are already being encouraged to feel by the DLC and their ilk, that we should chase the Republicans into the burning building of nationalist jingoism, racial discrimination, theocratic authoritarianism, and fascist agression.
This election is not signal for our party to tack right; it is an alarm that the America people have lost contact with the values of liberalism upon which this nation was built. This election calls us to continue to affirm those values in our public lives, and unscores the need to carry on with the task of articulating those values to the voting public. We will not save the party by abandoning our values. Doing so, we may possibly win the battle, but lose the very reason we fight.
I will continue to write here for those who have come to look forward to what I may say, or are interested by the material I decide to point out. For some time my posting will less frequent as work and family life, long neglected, take back their rightful place. But I suspect it would be impossible to shut up and stop writing, even if the world stops listening.
posted by Michael Bryan @ 11/08/2004 07:12:00 PM
5 Comments:
Michael...
We certainly understand the need to reclaim a private and professional life, but don't forsake the blog completely. I have commented, myself, over at Ojo Caliente, that for the next weeks it would be good to avoid the adrenalin rush of anxious debate and simply cool off...and think about what we want to accomplish and how we want to do it.
Plenty of time after the first of the year to re-energize the political machinery that the campaign has created.
In themeantime let us quietly ask ourselves, "What is To Be Done?
Solidarity!
Hey, cheer up.
I belong to a region which you have been following closely. There, we've learned that 4 years are only a brief moment in history. Keep doing what you've been doing, and more importantly reach out beyond the divide... gain people to your side.
I really appreciate you, and it is people like you who make me believe in this nation.
One last point. The Middle East, that is the moderate majority of the Middle East, is crying out for an end to its traumas... However, Jewish, Christian and Muslim fundamentalists, there and here in the US, are driving this far to close to a disaster... They also stir fear and invoke faith to keep the flames. This is why I do really commend you for your understanding and empathy for this region.
Anyway keep writing and don't give up, and all the best.
Mike,
Thanks for this. More than one of your regular readers were afraid you'd kicked the bucket.
I can understand your post-election blues. But I would encourage you not to give up -- to channel your disappointment into wrath against a political system that forces us to choose between the lesser of two evils in every election.
http://collegenonpartisans.blogspot.comEnjoy -- and let your feet be winged in their defense of our great nation.
Jeremy Young
"59 million Americans were wrong"So, you're saying Democracy didn't work?
If you'll notice, more than Kerry lost. Daschle comes immediately to mind. House seats. Senate seats.
Those 59 million Americans weren't wrong. And the Democrat Party needs to wake up and smell the coffee.
We need a vigorous functional opposition party, and the Democrats aren't it right now.
The first thing you've got to do is STOP CONDESCENDING TO AND INSULTING THE INTELLIGENCE OF YOUR OPPOSITION. Because, quite frankly, it pisses people off.
And that's not a good way to get their vote, is it?
you are an idiot... and i hope you keep thinking that you democrats are not wrong,etc...then you will keep losing elections....so why dont you do us a favor in old conservative az..and leave.
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