My mood has improved a bit since the deep election day gloom. It didn't start out well today with the headline in the paper saying "Bush calls for unity." Well, yeah. He said that four years ago, and he then created the most polarized electorate I can remember.
The subhead was "President reaches out to those who voted for Kerry," and I thought, "Sure, you seek to unite as long as those people a) aren't women who want the right to choose, b) aren't gays or lesbians who have the temerity to seek equal protection under the law, c) aren't middle and lower class Americans who want health insurance, d) aren't parents who fear that trillion dollar deficits will saddle their children with a debt that they'll never get out from under. Unfortunately, that leaves out everybody except your wealthiest one percent pals, so good luck with that unification thing, Dubya.
Perhaps now that he doesn't have to worry about being reelected, Dubya can be a bit more conciliatory. But there's no reason, really, is there? The GOP gained in Congress, so the politics of fear and divisiveness are working, right? Pick a fight with some towel-heads and all the NASCAR dads and cranky old uncles will be on your side.
So what's left for us? In the immortal words of Joe Strummer from The Clash on Know Your Rights: "You have the right to free speech as long as you're not dumb enough to actually try it!" Steve Duin, a columnist in "The Oregonian" who basically serves as the paper's conscience, said essentially the same thing in this morning's column. Don't shut up...Karl Rove & Co. don't win unless we roll over.
I'm not going to roll over. Are you?
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