Election postmortem
Nov. 5th, 2008 10:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kellinatorNo, I'm not cut-tagging it. Deal.
The election is over. (And not a minute too soon.)
I volunteered for President-Elect Obama's campaign. I haven't posted anything on LJ about phone-banking for Obama, or canvassing in North Carolina for Obama, because apparently I've decided to let everyone on LJ bully me into censoring myself, but some of the stuff I've seen on LJ this morning... I have to say something.
I have seen several lovely, heartfelt posts this morning that echo Senator McCain's dignified and generous concession speech last night, from people who realize that first and foremost we are all Americans and are willing to give Obama a chance. And I have seen, and not just on LJ, some crazy shit. Bread lines? "Spreading the wealth" as taking money from people who themselves are hurting? Conservatives saying "don't worry, he'll get killed"? Really? There's something called the American ideological consensus, which basically means that the two parties are really a lot closer to the center than anyone gives them credit for. What's up with the Red Terror? We've survived a civil war, two world wars, and a whole lot of other shit; do you really think Obama's election is going to destroy the country? Hell, we all know how I feel about W, and he still hasn't destroyed the country. Can we give America a little more credit?
And here's something I really don't get: So many Republicans say Democrats are lazy and want the government to do everything for them, and then we Obama supporters decide to take responsibility ourselves for what's going on in the nation and get involved, and then the Republicans say that we're in a cult and have clearly been hypnotized and can't think for ourselves. That is an insult to me as an American. (And where were these people when the documentary Jesus Camp showed children praying to cardboard cutouts of W? If that doesn't say "cult," I'm not sure what does.)
The thing that really moves me about Obama is he talks about us, all of us, the United States of America. What's so bad about the country working together to improve things? It's what Americans have done in the toughest times. Can we set aside this partisan insanity and just be Americans for a while, give it a try? If you try it and don't like it, well, then you'll know for the next election.
Also: I am completely pissed off over all the votes for homophobia. I'm just ill.
If you feel the need to defriend me over this post, don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.
The election is over. (And not a minute too soon.)
I volunteered for President-Elect Obama's campaign. I haven't posted anything on LJ about phone-banking for Obama, or canvassing in North Carolina for Obama, because apparently I've decided to let everyone on LJ bully me into censoring myself, but some of the stuff I've seen on LJ this morning... I have to say something.
I have seen several lovely, heartfelt posts this morning that echo Senator McCain's dignified and generous concession speech last night, from people who realize that first and foremost we are all Americans and are willing to give Obama a chance. And I have seen, and not just on LJ, some crazy shit. Bread lines? "Spreading the wealth" as taking money from people who themselves are hurting? Conservatives saying "don't worry, he'll get killed"? Really? There's something called the American ideological consensus, which basically means that the two parties are really a lot closer to the center than anyone gives them credit for. What's up with the Red Terror? We've survived a civil war, two world wars, and a whole lot of other shit; do you really think Obama's election is going to destroy the country? Hell, we all know how I feel about W, and he still hasn't destroyed the country. Can we give America a little more credit?
And here's something I really don't get: So many Republicans say Democrats are lazy and want the government to do everything for them, and then we Obama supporters decide to take responsibility ourselves for what's going on in the nation and get involved, and then the Republicans say that we're in a cult and have clearly been hypnotized and can't think for ourselves. That is an insult to me as an American. (And where were these people when the documentary Jesus Camp showed children praying to cardboard cutouts of W? If that doesn't say "cult," I'm not sure what does.)
The thing that really moves me about Obama is he talks about us, all of us, the United States of America. What's so bad about the country working together to improve things? It's what Americans have done in the toughest times. Can we set aside this partisan insanity and just be Americans for a while, give it a try? If you try it and don't like it, well, then you'll know for the next election.
Also: I am completely pissed off over all the votes for homophobia. I'm just ill.
If you feel the need to defriend me over this post, don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.
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no subject
Date: 2008-11-06 02:06 am (UTC)My mother voted McCain, and her attitude is one of "well, let's wait and see how he does." She didn't dislike Obama; she just agreed with McCain more. I think McCain would be ashamed to hear what some of his supporters are saying. And you know what? If you really believe in your man (McCain), then you'll follow his advice and stand behind the new President.
I worked outside a polling place yesterday, telling people to vote no on 2. If people had read the rest of the amendment, they would understand what they were really voting against. But no. The Say Yes people got it into people's heads that this was about gay marriage. I'm still trying to understand why it's anyone's business who someone chooses to live with, and how those two people choose to define their relationship. But oh no, apparently this endangers my marriage. Because gays will come into my house and make me get a divorce!!!