yes, I think about politics
I have two points to make about the 2004 US election.
1) Why did we not nominate a Southern democrat to win? The answer is, we didn't know how important it would be to overcome the urban liberal snobbery stigma in order to win. Not only was this a strategic error, but failure to make it important showed our shallowness as leaders.
2) When is the last time you had someone like this sitting across your dinner table?
- in agriculture as a business
- not attended college
- likes country music
- goes to church every week
- self or family member in the military
- considers themselves blue collar
- can't change the channel fast enough when "will and grace" comes on
There are several characteristics that make up a good nation-state. These are, to begin with, that the citizens should speak the same language, share a culture, have geographical based boundaries for the land, that sort of thing. The same religion helps, as well as looking similar, but the culture sharing trumps both of them. Unfortunately this election has shown the United States to be a poor candidate for a nation. I have more in common with our neighbors to the north in Vancouver Canada than I have with the people who voted for Bush. I don't know what the next steps are for resolving that, but rather than race, or gender, or economic class, or any other way we divide ourselves, this election has proven that the most powerful distinction between US citizens right now is country mouse vs. city mouse. Speaking as a city mouse, I want to take it all back, every episode of will and grace, every fancy tall building or zoomy car. If growing corn in my backyard would unify us, to the point where we as democrats have *any* idea of what it would take to nominate someone who a) does not want to wage war, and b) can get elected, then I'll do it. (As I said, I don't know what next steps are.) But country vs. city is big right now, and we should have known better is all.
Comments
Elizabeth,
It is half-time between War versus No War, and not the end of the game.
America has NEVER kicked out a Commander-In-Chief during war time!!!
Democrats need not to change anything, because none of us are going over to the Republican side.
However, Kerry kicked butt as well as possible given the limitation, and look at how stretched the Republicans became with Bu$h the younger's LIES. No way, with the promises made can the Republican Party not self destruct. Kerry pushed them into an impossible corner, and John Dean showed the line Kerry could not cross.
Republican Party can not succeed, and will end this term broken into several parties. It is the end of them, not Democrats as we will gain as the fools learn the hard way. Their broken factions will be trounced next election, and Democrats probably will see positive results with the mid-term election.
Democrats came together, Republicans can not stay together --- of course, Bu$h the younger does't care about that afterwards.
Posted by: LonghairSteve | November 11, 2004 03:05 PM
Look, nobody is asking Democrats to become Republicans. What you ought to do is talk to Dems who voted for Bush. If you don't know any, I'll help.
I'm one.
Minority, some college, educated, born in South, lives on coast. Relatives in Army, raised lower middle class. Artist, Techie. Good income, single, no kids. Voracious reader, net surfer. Owns stock, IRA, just under 40.
Have been mugged. Been in a fight. Been in other countries. Know people of other races. Have gay loved ones. Don't drink, smoke, care about sports or celebrities. Not a joiner. Think most demonstrations are ineffective. Dislike dramatic people.
Now then.
After first Gulf war I thought about big global problems and solutions. The current administration implemented some of my solutions.
They got my vote.
I found the Dem candidate unconvincing on a personal level. I find the current president and staff irritating on a personal level.
Don't care. They did what I wanted done; scaring the fuck out of people who want to kill Americans.
Posted by: willc2 | November 12, 2004 10:16 PM