Take That

I have to admit that from time to time during the Bush years, I have watched my fellow Americans support all kinds of cruelty and insanity, from the bombing of Baghdad and Fallujah to the ignoring of Hurricane Katrina to the torturing of taxi drivers in Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo to the gutting of all meaningful action on global warming, and I have thrown up my hands and said, "So, take what you deserve and like it! Sow the wind if you want, reap the whirlwind, and welcome." From time to time I have lost not only hope but care for my fellow citizens, who have seemed intent on destroying themselves and others for the sake of things I do not and cannot understand. Dictatorships do horrible things, and their citizens are employed to do them, but for a self-advertised democracy to do horrible things seems to me a lot worse -- we are all implicated. We can never walk away from crimes that we failed to prevent, because as citizens of a democracy, it was our job to prevent them.

Here we are at another election day, and when I read about Republican voters in Ohio threatening Obama supporters and screaming that Obama is a Muslim (Rev. Wright, where are you when we need you?) or a terrorist or the Anti-Christ or a Communist or a Socialist, that old knee-jerk impulse takes over again -- I think, go ahead, wreck your country, see what I care! You want Sarah Palin as president? See where that gets you! Why should you be saved from yourselves?

Back in February, 2006, I wondered here on the Huff: "Isn't there always a moment in the life of every dictatorship when the tyrants take the gloves off in public?" And then, "The Republicans might have to then enforce their power with vigilante groups and lynch mobs. Are we there yet?" Since then, we have gotten closer to that point. The Republicans grow more and more shameless -- so shameless in their fearmongering and lying that if we didn't know them so well by now, we would think they were kidding. McCain and Palin and their spokesmodels have shown that they will say anything to retain power, and, if they have to, they will make every attempt to assure that after the election their base will be violent and ungovernable.

And yet, this election day is different, and even though Obama cannot solve all our problems, he is, in fact, a reason not to throw in the towel and move to France. It is pretty clear right now that Obama supporters far outnumber McCain supporters. The country is full of people who have given up on the Republicans -- who recognize that Bush and Cheney took them for a ride, that Palin was a sucker-choice for VP, that McCain is erratic and dangerous, that Obama's race, in their minds, is an entirely secondary consideration to his intelligence and vision. In fact, the country is full of people who are more hopeful and less cynical than I am. And I find it inspiring. As much as I detested Karl Rove, he had me with that "permanent Republican Majority". Maybe I kind of fell for that (screaming all the way down). Even as I speak, the voters are lined up out there, and most of them are voting for Obama. They can see with their own eyes what is going on, so if the Republicans steal the election again this time, they won't believe it for a minute.

Right now, on Monday afternoon, I am not going to say that Obama's win won't be a fight. It could be. I hope it isn't. And as the moderates leave, the Republican base gets more and more unpredictable. But whatever happens and however long it takes, I do believe that the majority of Americans are awake and aware. And that's inspiring. It makes me think my country has a future. And it makes me care about that future. Thanks, Barack!

Comments

[macb]

I'm hopeful,but not doing a victory dance yet.I do hope the repubs give the hateful, narrow minded "base" the boot.They can start their own party.Less than 25% of the electorate cannot continue to run this country.Le­t them stew in survival-bible camp..thei­r sick version of the bible if it makes them feel good.whate­ver.I am a southern Christian.­My great-grandfather was a baptist preacher from Kentucky.I shake my head and wonder who these new evangelicals are.My family is voting Obama 100%,and I know it was trippy for some of them.I am so proud of them all!Human rights,helping the poor,not bearing false witness,love and loyalty to your family..th­is is what we have always held sacred.Onl­y one candidate met the criteria.

[23000Days]

Thanks, Jane, for those words of encouragement for this paranoid cynic.

"Yes We Can" has brought us to this day. "Yes We Will" will bolster us in the battle for the soul of our nation.
There is much planning, acting and yes, fighting to go before we see the fruits of our hopes. We will restructure our union, given time and a stalwart leader.

Voted O/B early in NC.

[cylindar]

The Republican party consists of skinheads, Neo Nazi type Necons, religious nuts, and major beer drinkers. What a party. I hope they begin to get rid of the riff raf and become sort of respectable again.

[tomas0808]

Yeah, great post. I too have lost hope at times. We have all been lazy. We have accepted scraps from the table in the form of changes in social policy,such as the stopping of the draft in the 70's. That was the same thing as saying 'if you stop the draft we'll let you continue with unnecessary wars.' When we should have demanded 'No more unnecessary wars.' We should have demanded them return our country to a nation we could be proud of and be wiling to fight for.

[fuwanna]

I well understand the distress and despair about which Ms. Smiley writes, but I'd like to remind everyone of one simple fact:

The Republicans have not actually won a presidential election in 20 years.

The last election they actually won--not stole-- was in 1988.

(For we know very well that Bush did not actually win FL in 2000 nor OH in 2004).

And if you think of it this way--20 years of the majority of Americans (however slight) rejecting the Repub candidate--aren't things like Rove's "permanent Repub majority" revealed for what they actually are: fantasies and cynical mindgames?

Yes, it's easy to believe the relentless noise of the Republicans: their slogans are so easy to repeat, their positions infantile and "sticky." But if Obama can win tomorrow--if the will of the people is not derailed as it was in '00 and '04--then that will mean that by the next presidential election it will have been nearly a quarter of a century since a Repub presidential candidate has appealed to enough voters to actually be voted, rather than rigged, into office.

And in this there is reason to hope.

[afitz7]

Thanks Jane,

Once again, I find inspiration and comfort in your wise words. Keep em' coming.

AFH

[yooper2]

I unfortunately agree with Jane!

[martinchill]

remain skeptical, never cynical.

you are brilliant, ms. smiley - keep calling out the b.s. please.

[Atcha]

Not so fast, a democratic majority doesn't cancel the atrocious indifference displayed towards a million of Iraqi victims of the US policies and the intentionally blurry way used by Biden and Obama to refer to the "spending" that has to stop in Iraq, without distinguishing between the reconstruction costs (that the invading country is condemned to pay under international laws) and the US military expenditures doesn 't bode well for the redeeming nature of the next administration

[Porridgebird]

The majority is awake and aware? I wish!
Americans bought the preposterous 911 "official" story sold to them by PNAC and the MSM. Bush then exploited our fears to begin our American fascism.
I pray that Obama lives long enough to bring the TRUE terrorists of 911 to justice.
However, as with ALL of the positive changes that he may bring, he will need the support of aware and awake Americans!
Demand to see the 911 Pentagon tapes. Make Bushco PROVE the biggest lie of all time!

[jugganaut]

Hey don't get me wrong, I'm with ya that there's something smelly behind the official 911 party line. There ain't no way on this green earth that WTC 7 fell all by itself.

But as far as the public ever seeing whatever hard evidence still exists (which probably ain't much), fat chance of that. Everyone holding any power in government has something to lose with the exposure of evidence, so it isn't going to happen.

[ibivi]

If they're hiding anything it is their incompetence. That's all. The nightmare of this administration will be over soon. A new day is coming.

[krocklin]

Sure with an impending Depression Obama will probably win due to his being the opposite of Bush and McCain in an environment where their belief systems have led to an obvious trainwreck­..
But there is still a large diseased part of the American Psyche that will remain with us.
Americans are split into two camps: those that believe in authoritarian principles, and those who favor tolerance and group welfare.
Those who believe in Governance versus those who want to Rule.
The authoritarians, if they themselves can't be the moral arbiters, will gladly follow those who most presumptiously assert themselves and are most intolerant and divisive.
So in one camp you have those who are intolerant of those who don't think like they do; and in the other you have those who are inclusive and tolerant of diverse views.
The Founders tried as best they could to prevent authoritarian rule in favor of Democracy, but their experiment is always under threat.

[johnnydajogger]

Obama and McCain are very close if not identical on all major issues. McCain is so atrocious that he makes Obama look good by comparison. For example, many believe that Obama is the "peace candidate". However, his position on Iraq is to leave 60,000 troops there indefinately and move the balance to Afghanistan in order to get that war cranked up some more. Multiple bases will be maintained all over Iraq and 3,000 person embassy bigger than the Vatican will be maintained. The overwhelming majority of Iraqis want us out NOW. Both Obama and McCain want an indefinite stay, they only differ in the size of the force. I could go on and on but you get the idea. The only ones talking about the real issues and proposing real change are the third party candidates who have effectively been ignored by the corporate controlled media. So, prepare to be very disappointed in the next 4 years regardless of which one of the bopsy twins gets in.

[MikieNes]

Bullshit.

[Johnagain]

I second that.

[carol]

I have been where you are, Jane. Disillusioned idealists harbor the worst sort of righteous anger. I'll settle for a win tomorrow but my heart will rejoice with a blowout. Of course, Obama has to compete against Joe the Plumber, a formidable foe...none­theless, he is the future of the country and it's looking as tho the electorate is waking up to this.

[Martha601]

I'm superstitious about this election and I am not really superstitious. I won't claim our victory but I can taste it. I'm scared and paranoid but I can take it. All I know is that I will stand in line tomorrow no matter how long I have to wait and I will not watch any coverage and I just may drink myself into a stupor but I am completely inspired. I had all but given up, not caring what direction this country went since they made it painfully obvious that they didn't really want our opinion (2000 election). I have hope this year, unexpected, beautiful, and, at times, painful hope. But, hope is underrated.

Great article!

[FiveVotersDotCom]

If you'd like to be further encouraged and inspired, check out Bruce Springsteen's comments on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws1B8ZvLjI0

I'm as cynical as you, Jane, but...

Positive change sure seems like it's coming on strong.