With a week to go before the election, I’m having a burst of compassion for the many conservatives who are seriously depressed about the prospect of watching Barack Obama in the White House for the next four (or eight) years.
Believe me, I’ve been there. My wife too. We’ve felt your pain. In 2000. And again in 2004. So here’s some advice from a progressive who didn’t know if he could make it through a George Bush presidency:
You’ll survive. When you wake up on November 5, the sun will still rise. Still, for a while you’ll feel like there’s nothing to live for, that the bottom has fallen out of your political life. You won’t be able to understand how so many people voted for a second-rate candidate who, obviously, is going to drag this country down. Take a deep breath. Relax. Tell yourself: "this too shall pass."
That’s what I did. And now it’s happened. George Bush and John McCain are poised to pass out of the national awareness.
A new day is about to dawn, one where progressives dance and sing, while conservatives contemplate moving to a state with assisted suicide (that would be Oregon, where I live; but I’m sorry — you have to be terminally ill to use the law, not just terminally depressed).
On cable news I’ve seen McCain supporters saying things like, "This country can’t survive if Obama wins." I think to myself: My friends, we’re on the same wavelength. You’re just eight years behind my speaking the same words.
With a minor substitution: "Bush" for "Obama." I was wrong in 2000 and 2004, because the United States has been strong and resilient enough to make it through the mal-administraton of one of the worst presidents ever.
So Republicans, buck up.
I’m confident that Obama is going to be one of our best presidents. It’s not going to take long for you to realize that your fears have been unfounded. And every time you see Joe Biden do something vice-presidential, be thankful that it isn’t Sarah Palin a heartbeat away from the Oval Office.
Yikes! That thought is so scary, I’m not sure what I’d do if it became reality.
Often progressives say, "I’d move to Canada." They may not mean it, but it makes them feel better to know that there’s a way out of a national nightmare. There’s a problem for conservatives, though: where do they go if Obama wins?
It isn’t readily apparent what country is the equivalent of Canada for right-wingers. Fortunately, Chris Wilson of Slate has come up with some answers in "The Conservative’s Canada: Where can Republicans threaten to move if Obama wins?"
Israel. Poland. The Cayman Islands. Or Switzerland, Singapore, Hong Kong. Australia and Ireland are other possibilities. Not as easy to get to as Canada, but each has some characteristics that would help sooth a conservative’s Obama-stressed soul.
Personally, I like the idea in this article that disgruntled Republicans head north to Alaska, where they can soak up Palin’s persona and pretend that she’s V.P. rather than Governor.
(Another possibility: join Republicans for Obama and be happy the next four years.)
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If they go to Alaska, they can reap the benefits of the socialism she practices up there– spreading the wealth from the rest of the country through the price we pay for fuel to every Alaskan home in terms of a reverse income tax because as she has said, the state meaning the people own the oil. Socialism is so bad unless you are the ones getting in on the dole?
“…because the United States has been strong and resilient enough to make it through the mal-administraton of one of the worst presidents ever.”
I’m not sure this is correct. Not certain, that is, that we’ve made it through. Perhaps Bush and his gang will have the last laugh. You should probably be reading this guy (Ilargi) once in awhile. http://theautomaticearth.blogspot.com
I’m just comforted by the knowledge that if the vote is too close, we will be able to rely on our totally fair and ballanced and unbiased Supreme Court to decide the winner!
(again)
The Supreme court is not likely to decide this one. If these guys end up tied, which can happen, it’ll go to Congress. House chooses president and Senate chooses Vice-president. So, depending on how the other elections go and the party in control of each, you could end up with Obama and Palin… heaven forbid *s*
Sorry Harry, but this election won’t be close, at least by the standard set by the last two elections. McCain is one of the least charismatic candidates we have had in a long time and with the virulent loathing of Bush, the economy, and most of the media against him, he has no chance. Don’t worry though, after eight years of democratic bungling the country will be ready for eight years of republican bungling again. Brian, I feel your pain in 2016.
There is a pretty good chance that I may be feeling Brian’s pain in 2012 as the economy may short-circuit Obama’s agenda and make him look really bad. No money, no party. Where will the money come from to finance his agenda unless he kills all of us with increased taxation? But the dems can’t do that because increased taxation will surely prevent economic recovery. There may be a faux recovery in 2009-2010 that may open the door a little, but then the collapse will resume into 2012 and beyond.
In case I appear overly pessimistic I think all this difficulty will result in real change and not the type of superficial change Obama is talking about like multi-lateralism, universal health care and lines at the abortion clinics. I’m talking about a massive paradigm shift of new values and ways of doing things that are on the fringes of awareness now but will only become clear as events unfold..something beyond free markets, capitalism, socialism or any current “ism”.
I’m not talking about paradise or utopia in regard to this paradigm shift. Don’t worry, there will still be problems for us to debate about.
El condor pasa.
Progressives (aka liberals), I feel your pain:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20081208/pl_politico/16292;_ylt=AuEG.rfRbyoMpIrosupzTNSyFz4D