We are SO fucked.

[kellinator]

This morning I got up almost hopeful. As much as this all sucks, at least it's over. On the drive to work, I was writing a post in my head about all the things we could do to work for a better America.

Then I started reading my friends list and my mood went downhill fast.

Then this afternoon I went to CNN.com and found this:

"I earned capital in the campaign, political capital, and now I intend to spend it."

I went in my boss' office and said about fifteen times that "we are so screwed."

The man has absolutely no intention whatsoever of trying to bring the country together. His version of being "a uniter, not a divider" is that he tells us what to do and we all get behind him like good little sheep.

I started crying this afternoon in a friend's office. When she said "at least you can get married," I cried harder. Why is it that I could run off to Vegas, pick up some guy I've never seen before, and marry him, and she can't marry the woman she's loved and been faithful to for years and years? It's just wrong.

And for all of you who think homosexuality is Wrong and just the biggest sin you can commit (ahead of killing, lying, and a bunch of other things that actually made the Ten Commandments), all I have to say is: If you think gay sex is wrong, well then don't have it. But you've got no right to tell anyone else they can't. That's between them and God.

I went to a debate on same-sex marriage at Vandy a few years ago. The pro people all got up and said "we're not talking about religious marriage, we don't want to tell any religious group what to do, we're just talking about civil marriage rights." Then the con people got up and screamed about religious marriage for two hours. They're not listening.

Some of you who voted for Bush seem not to understand why this is so upsetting to many of us on the left. If Kerry had been elected, you would still have a voice in politics. The Republican majorities would ensure that. But now, with the Republicans fully in charge of everything and about to start stacking the judiciary, and with Bush's history of saying he'll be a uniter and then doing whatever he damn well pleases, we have no reason to believe that we'll be listened to. We have no reason to believe that we even matter anymore. We're like strangers in a strange land, wondering what's going to be taken from us next.

I've seen that some polyamourous bisexual people voted for Bush because they liked his tax cuts. In all honesty, what are you thinking? Have you not noticed the man's stance on Puritanical morality? Don't think you'll be exempted from his judgment because you voted for him.

I'm so scared. I tried so hard -- so many of us did. But proven facts were no match for the Cult of Bush. Can't you see? It's not about losing. It's about fearing for the American way of life.

Comments

[girlvinyl.livejournal.com]

Neither of these parties fit with the majority of americans - that's why it's 51% vs 48%. They're both fucking nuts and there are no more moderates. I sincerely believe it's time to go for something totally different. Both parties have illustrated their complete incompetence. They've had their chance for 40 years now... things have only gotten worse. I'm not going to give either of them the oppurtunity to fuck up anything else. They need to have their power taken away... that's the only option.

[whysoblue.livejournal.com]

I'm so scared. I tried so hard -- so many of us did. But proven facts were no match for the Cult of Bush. Can't you see? It's not about losing. It's about fearing for the American way of life.

Amen, sister.

from that linked article....

[10dimensions.livejournal.com]

"I will reach out to everyone who shares our goals"

That's about what I thought.

[starline.livejournal.com]

::hug::

[phyrra.livejournal.com]

*is poly bi eclectic pagan*
*did not vote for bush*
*was closer to nader on some ideals*
*voted for kerry*

I'm more of a socialist/liberal type.
I dunno what's going to happen :(

[ilexx.livejournal.com]

We're like strangers in a strange land, wondering what's going to be taken from us next.

well put. :(

[polychromatic22.livejournal.com]

It *still* baffles me that anybody would vote for somebody who wants to take away civil liberties (and has fairly effectively) for years, just because they might get a tax cut or whatever else small change in policy that changes like the tides. Freedoms don't come back. Once you give them away, historically, people have to die for them to come back. People don't die for tax cuts.

That you add on to that the fact that some of the people who voted for someone who would take away civil liberties belonged to the very groups most in danger just astounds me.

What the hell goes through your head? "Hell, who needs little things like freedom from oppression and equal rights when I can get an extra $180 back in taxes every year! Woohoo! Party in Jamaica! Bush is the best!"

As for me, I vow no bush in my house for the next 4 years. If I have to shave every day, no bush, baby. No bush.

I can understand...

[cotharyus.livejournal.com]

your distress over the ideas. Let me make a few points:

1) I have lots of GLBT friends. They know my stance - I think the bible says it's wrong. However, I don't shoot gay people. If I saw someone killing someone for no apparently reason, they'd probly get hurt. I don't understand why everyone things that a christian is going to damn them to hell for being gay. Talk about tollerance - the bible tells me it's wrong, but that I should love you anyway. And I have no reason not to, and I don't believe that a gay person will go to hell if they're saved - saved is saved - but that's religion, I'm just talking about what I think.

2) Same sex marriges I don't understand - I wouldn't vote against them if it was on a ballet, and I don't think Bush is going to institute a national no-same-sex-marriage ammendment. I just don't think he's that into attacking Americans, or thier rights. The same goes for religious freedoms. It just so happens that the founding fathers of our country were christians, and used christian principles, but maintained religious freedom was something everyone should have. As a result, feel free to practice wicca, christianity, unitarianism, or whatever, right out in the open. I even think you should be allowed to practice in school, as long as it isn't disruptive. Prayer is not disruptive. America was founded on the idea of tollerance. If it's not harming someone else, it's fine, even if I don't like it.

What's it going to take to make everyone realize that government is still under the voter's control?

[branwynelf.livejournal.com]

And for all of you who think homosexuality is Wrong and just the biggest sin you can commit (ahead of killing, lying, and a bunch of other things that actually made the Ten Commandments),

Thank you for that. I plan on using that whenever I can from now on ...

[leezechka.livejournal.com]

i never quite understand this extreme and almost violent hatred of taxes. You want the services, you pay some taxes!

You drive on the roads, if you have kids you pay for their school, if you dont, you chip in so the kids get educated and arent a useless illiterate drain on society. And you pay for the prisons to keep the scary folk from killing you in your sleep. You pay for defense, for museums, for breathable air and edible food. If you are rich, you should pay a little more, poor, a little less, struggling to put food on the table? you should not have to pay anything. When there is war, spending goes up, so should taxes. Every generation has done that before, why are we so friggin special?

I would love to have that bit more of my money in my pockets, but the thought of losing all the shit those taxes pay for scares me way more.

Something to do

[opalturtle.livejournal.com]

Should such atrocious bills make it within breathing distance of even thinking of being passed we'll all have to flood our elected folks with letters and phone calls opposing it. There are things we can do to help. If we sit on our hands and say, "oh well, they're going to pass what they want" and don't try to do anything about it. . .they will. I think too many of us have gotten into the habit of talking about it alot, but never actually trying to do anything to change the balance. Know what I mean??

[gesundyke]

*hug*

as a bisexual pagan, my tears for this america fall with yours.

[zitronenhai.livejournal.com]

I've seen that some polyamourous bisexual people voted for Bush because they liked his tax cuts. In all honesty, what are you thinking? Have you not noticed the man's stance on Puritanical morality? Don't think you'll be exempted from his judgment because you voted for him.

That's the thing that frustrates me the most. And pro-choice women voting for Bush, for that reason or because of a theory that you shouldn't change leaders in the middle of a war. The stinger is that Bush's tax cuts do not benefit most people. They are targeted to the very wealthiest Americans, period. As much as that has been publicized, it shocks me that more people don't realize it's true. I do not understand why anyone would, in essence, sell their civil, personal and reproductive rights for tax cuts that probably won't touch them. And even if they would bring some financial benefit to me, it would never, ever be worth it.

[a-deal-with-god.livejournal.com]

I don't know you (read this through a mutual LJ friend), but what a brilliant fucking post!! I totally agree 100%. Tuesday night was one of the most gut-wrenching and dissappointing nights of my existence.

[poprockgrrl.livejournal.com]

I'm still greatly affected by this just like you. I'm going to be in DC for the inauguration participating in a bit of civil disobedience.

I keep getting stuck on your friends who voted for him because of tax cuts. I'd like to know where the fuck these tac cuts are. I NEVER got a tax break. People I know who got a tax cut can now go and maybe buy a beer with their tax cut. Any tax cut that's been given to anyone who makes less than 100K a year is not enough to even matter. Those people are idiots. The only monetary thing I've ever gotten during this administration was an unemployment check after I got laid off. gah.

People are fucktards. They drank the purple kool aid and joined the cult.

Go out there and use your voice Kelly.

[la-belledame.livejournal.com]

It's not the end, Kelly -- it's beginning. Find a scrap of hope and hang onto it, nurture it and help it grow.

As Molly Ivins said, "Don't mourn, organize."

Did you know that Arlen Specter, maverick Republican senator from Pennsylvania is the head of the judiciary committee? And that he has warned Bush that he will fight stacking the Supreme Court with anti-choice justices?

Keep hoping, Kelly. He didn't get a mandate. He can say it all we wants, but it's not a mandate. He has two years to fix things before the next inroad into Congress -- get your energy focused on that.

Hold your head up, and don't let the bastards win.

[d2leddy.livejournal.com]

Well expressed, as always, kellinator.

unrelated to your post

[darkerdays.livejournal.com]

sorry i forgot your email addy...

are you going to margaritas tonight? can i join you? i dont wanna go if i am not welcome...

[tikimama.livejournal.com]

This just means we have to stop trying to be nice and accepting and tolerant and kind. End. We now are hardline--we speak up for things that we think are wrong. That's what they do--they aren't afraid to try and pass a an anit-gay marriage amendment.

We have to have the courage of our convictions. We have to be willing to speak up and stand up and fight.

I will not be silenced, I will not be cowed, I will not stand by and watch as they bully this country. I wouldn't watch as they did this to a person, I won't let them do it as a country.

[mschristine.livejournal.com]

I agree with most everyone whose spoken so far. I believe the democratic party for the most part has been too concerned with people pleasing and moderation and now it is time to bust balls and be the biggest pain in the ass to the Bush admininstration as possible.

[jack-mccoy-fan1.livejournal.com]

These Christo-Fascists passing themselves off as Republicans want to turn this nation into a One Party system whether you like it or not. They further their sick agenda by going after the opposition with lies and scare tactics attacking our beliefs. They fear us. We mustn't fear them. We will not cow down to them by slipping into mediocrity through conformity thus sabotaging our individuality. They will not win.

[whorlwind.livejournal.com]

http://www.godhatesshrimp.com/