Post-Election Commentary
I have been MIA for the past several weeks. I was in Argentina and Brazil but now I am back in action. Four more years of Dubya. Oh well. Could be worse. More commentary to come later. First, here is some email discourse I had today with an anonymous Republican:
Republican: As far as I am concerned all those extreme leftists can get out. The US would be a much better place if they followed through with what they said they would do and leave the US if Bush was reelected. All those celebrates who said they would leave if he was reelected can just bugger off. I wish someone would post an article about all the celebrates who said they would leave and then show how much effort they are making to leave. I bet not ONE celebrate who said they would leave is even planning to leave. They are all talk just like the rest of the Democrats. Democrats (an not Kerry) are saying that the nation hates Bush. But if that was the case then why did he win the populous vote? Not only did he win the presidency but he achieved the highest percentage of voters ever (52%). Instead of working to unite the nation the Democrats are working to cause even more division. Why is that? The people have spoken, and a overwhelming majority of them have agreed that Bush is the man for the job. Why can't the Democrats just succeed like Kerry did that it's over? Why do they continue to fight a lost battle. I akin the DNC's attempts to that of the terrorists in Iraq who refuse to accept what is the inevitable. Anyways, I know it's bad to stereotype all Democrats as being separatists but that's the way it seems to me. I call them sore losers!
Me: The author of this rant is grossly exaggerating the feelings of Democrats and those on the left. Now I agree that the left has problems. I am in no way an apologist for the left. But the right has its share of problems as well let's be fair. The right is so dogmatic that they see everything in black and white. Thus they are rarely open to new ideas or change. They want to stay the course no matter what the facts of science and reality state in front of their eyes. They are threatened by social changes such as gay marriage and other cultural issues. This is the same closed-minded mentality that resisted the civil rights movement forty years ago. People on the right do not want to hear any differing point of view because it rattles their nerves so greatly.
The author writes "As far as I am concerned all those extreme leftists can get out". Well we actually live in a democracy and have the right to speak our minds just as the folks on the right speak their minds. Freedom of expression and thought is what makes this country great. The right's answer to people with a differing opinion is to tell them to get out of the country. Those on the left rarely tell right-wingers to get out of the country when they complain about big-government and taxes. I, as a citizen of this country, have every right to question my government and my leaders. Dissent is democratic! Without dissent and discussion we would be no better than Saddam Hussein's authoritative Iraqi regime.
"Difference of opinion leads to enquiry, and enquiry to truth; and that, I am sure, is the ultimate and sincere object of us both. We both value too much the freedom of opinion sanctioned by our Constitution, not to cherish its exercise even where in opposition to ourselves." --Thomas Jefferson to P. H. Wendover, 1815. ME 14:283
It's very unfair to equate the actions of disaffected Democrats to those of Iraqi insurgents. The right plays into Bush's inane view that "if you are not with us you are with the terrorists". This is their way of silencing any debate by casting dissenters as terrorists. This act is most unpatriotic since it harms democracy and seeks to limit the freedom of expression.
I do agree with the author that people who talk about leaving the country are hypocrites because they in fact will NOT leave the country. It is mostly stupid celebrities that say this. They are mostly opportunists who want media attention (Alec Baldwin, Barbara Streisand and other stupid Hollywood liberals and Clinton lovers). The majority of Democrats (ordinary people, not the ones in the spotlight or media) are truly worried about what Bush will do in a second term (dismantle Social Security, destroy the environment even more, start another war or two). These are valid concerns just as the right was concerned about what Kerry would do if he got into office. Right now Dems don't understand how Bush could win despite the struggling economy and mess in Iraq. They underestimated the powers of Karl Rove who was able to brilliantly highlight Kerry's flaws (I agree Kerry had many). I guess the Dems need some cut-throat bulldogs like Rove in their strategy team for 2008.
It is true that Bush received the highest number of votes for any incumbent president. However this is due to the increase in population--you have to look at percentages. If you look at the margin he won by (4% of the popular vote) then that is actually the lowest margin won by an incumbent president in about since before FDR I believe. Bush does not have a large mandate to govern since 48% of voters voted against him--this was not a landslide like Reagan-Mondale in 1984. Yet I know he will govern as if he had a large mandate since he now enjoys a one-party state and controls all branches of government (lucky him).
Both the right and the left are to blame for divisions in this county. I believe this is just another phase of American politics. The pendulum will swing again in four years as Bush will be blamed for all his errors when the American people are granted the gift of hindsight.
Republican: "Both the right and the left are to blame for divisions in this county. I believe this is just another phase of American politics. The pendulum will swing again in four years as Bush will be blamed for all his errors when the American people are granted the gift of hindsight."
I fully agree with the writer.
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Guess I did good.
