The Morning After

It was a giddy five days, wasn't it? I remember it well. There were blogs, and jokes on the Internet, and bets were made about how long it would last, how soon there would be a resignation. I made one of those bets myself. I said, within the month. Gone within the month. But five days passed and the vice-president was still there.

I'm referring, of course, not to our short happy fling with Sarah Palin, which ended last night with her completely terrifying speech in Minnesota, but to the week that Dick Cheney shot a friend in the face, didn't even go to the hospital to see him, and somehow, after a week, was still standing, as powerful as ever. These Republicans don't go away, and they never admit a mistake, and sometimes, when I remember this, I wonder how I ever forgot it, much less how I ever bet against it.

I forget what I know about conventions too, until I'm reminded every four years. The Democrats are always messy, multi-colored, a civics lesson in democracy, at times a nightmare of what can happen when people find their voices and won't stop talking. This year they had an abbreviated roll call, and the states all went through their introductory paragraphs ... the great state of Whatever ... the home of the God-Knows-Where Water Gap ...the place where daffodils bloom all year long ... and it made me misty thinking of the first night I ever heard a roll call. It was 1956 and I was camping on the rim of the Grand Canyon, listening to the radio and writing down the numbers on a piece of cardboard as the states decided whether Estes Kefauver or John Kennedy would be the vice-president on a ticket headed by Adlai Stevenson, whom I loved with all my heart. It was a thrilling night, and alone in the dark with my portable radio, I felt as if I were part of absolutely everything that was great in the universe.

Then of course, there are the Republicans, and I always forget them too. I forget how white they are, and mean-spirited, and thin-lipped. I watch them and I think, is anyone buying this? Does anyone think we're better off today? That we're "winning" the war? That teaching creationism is simply a matter of exposing students to both sides of the question? That it's sexist to wonder whether a mother who just months ago committed to a Down syndrome child ought to be running for vice-president? Does anyone think that executive experience trumps wisdom and intellect? And who are these people who rise to their feet and cheer loudest when they hear the words "Off-shore drilling"?

But the Republicans do it better. They present a united front. They wait for the applause, they don't roll over it in the interests of keeping the speeches short and on time. They ride the news cycle, they twist the truth, they stick to their talking points, they blah into the wind, blah blah blah blah blah, and in the end, they're still standing.

Now what?

Comments

[maryyooch]

You are so right! The only things the gop knows is slander. This Palin pick is freaking unbelievable! They won't let her talk to the press because she is so, so high off of her speech, the just know that they won't be able to control her.
I really don't think McCain even likes her, now that he's seen her in action. I know I don't. She comes off as very arrogant, self serving, conceited and power hungry.
The only thing that worries me is all the stupid rednecks in this country.
Bushs bubble is passed on to the 'change' republicans.

[GOVSUX]

Do any of you "people' realize The hate you feel is gonna eat you alive. You're not superior people just because you have a different opinion than "the right'. You call them "hate mongers" but my goodness this site is filled with it. Look into a mirror.

[mjt218]

"stupid redneck" criticisms don't help anyone . . . . If you're going to try and point fingers at the other side as ignorant, do it based on facts, not based on stereotypes. Leave that to the Republicans . . .

[LittleRedHenSez]

Don't worry about the rednecks. They call themselves that and are proud of it...they'll tell you to your face that they are ignorant and proud of it. I'm from IN and have met my unfair share.

[DCCommuter]

I agree with you 100%. Obama has given us the example of opposing people without the racial slander.

[SEQUOIABISON]

Great article Nora, so right on with your beautiful analogies. A very enjoyable read almost as compelling as When Harry Met Sally, which I urge you to placate your fans with a sequel.

Nice to see a fellow New Yorker have the same reaction I did to this horrendous convention, and by the way in retrospect I am glad Stevenson picked Kefauver instead of Kennedy as his running mate in 1956 otherwise JFK would have been attached to an inevitable losing ticket against IKE, and would never have secured the nomination in 1960?

Obama/Biden

[RosanneofTennessee]

The Republicans don't feel pain for those in need, pain for those without healthcare, pain for those who cannot afford gas, pain for those who have lost their home, pain for single mothers who cannot afford childcare, pain for what this destructive profit motive has done to our earth. They don't feel the pain of the disadvantaged, disenfranchised and disabled.They don't consider it part of their job description to fix any of it, unless it's an overseas child; then they bring cameras and capture the tender moment. What about the hungry, parentless children in our OWN country?

McCain is a man who was beaten, imprisoned and could not even feed himself; he claims he learned the lesson that "no man can always stand alone." On Wed. night, Palin was stating "this government is not a philanthropic institution." Which is it? Do you care, or don't you?

The Republicans believe in the trickle down theory--invest in the wealthy and the money will flow downward to the minions; that theory has never proven true. Not once. Money has been invested in wealthy companies and they've turned right around and given the profits to their investors and CEOs.

My daddy always explained the trickle down effect to me like this: " If you are lying in the gutter long enough, someone is going to "trickle down on you." And that's just about what's happened to the American people in the past four years...in one long, steady stream.

[alguien]

i always say feed the horses so the sparrows can eat.

[fruitonthevine]

Unbelieveably beautiful! Here! Here!

[Bademus]

I think the democratic convention this year came off pitch perfect and very well organized with a feeling of inclusion. The republican convention got a bit derailed on Monday which they couldn't avoid but once underway the feeling was much more exclusive and mean spirited which may not play all that well among some Independents. Rudy Gulliani ran overtime on his speech so they didn't have time to show the 37 million americans who watched the video presentation of Palin. McCain's speech was interruped by protesters and 400 people were arrested over the course of those 4 days. So I don't think it went all that well for them this time. As far as unity goes I do think our convention was effective in bringing the two sides together to the best extent possible and it seems the general impression was that we emerged unified.

[StoptheFear]

The Constitution also makes no mention of what economic model we the people decide to follow.

A Democracy can choose what type of economic system it wants to follow whether that system is socialist, free market or a combination of the two. As long as the rights of the citizens are protected.
If the people decide for the common good to provide universal health care and other social causes then this does not violate any part the Constitution. This is why we have inter-states, fire departments, police, bridges, parks ect.

[wrathofcon]

I am scared of you.

[greejambri]

I fear laissez-faire capitalism, as advocated by neocons like you. It's what's gotten this country (and this world) into the state it's in now. Now THAT"S scary.

[AmandaRuth]

wrathofcon,

you may be scared of us, but when socialized medicine comes to America, and it is coming, bringing better healthcare to all for much less (saving YOU money) and stimulates job and wage growth, lifting the burden of soaring health costs off of (start-up and established) business, again putting money in your pocket, you take it. Right?

[Tracy Saunders - Huffpost Blogger]

Nora,

I was saddened to see the McCain ticket project the notion that only Republicans are patriots. Their presentation belittled Barack Obama’s service to his nation and those he has championed through community work and by passing important legislation. Palin’s speech was divisive and served to create a new war within our own country. When the government’s role should be to bring our country together, the Republican message is “you are either with us or you are against us.” Don’t we have enough battles to fight elsewhere?

http://beyondthepretty.wordpress.com/

[unitron]

"I was saddened to see the McCain ticket project the notion that only Republicans are patriots. "

The Republicans have been doing that since at least 1968, surely you didn't expect anything different this time , did you?

[Kassandra]

I was saddened by the whole Republican convention. why aren't most of these people in Jail? There was Tom Delay, indicted since, what, 2005, still running around, grinning into the cameras. I guess he's waiting for George to pardon him.
I really wonder if George will pardon anybody after the way they threw him under the bus??????

[M1]

If it is war the Republicans want....they I say my fellow Democrats do as i do....when my Republican friend (hiding as an independent) starts calling Democrats liberal appeasors more dove than hawk. I stood up and reminded him that this women carried a badge and gun for 13 yrs patroling his streets....We are not unpatriotic people, we are Doves with Talons and this time we mean business.

Get in their faces with the facts and the truth and shame the Republicans for the liars they are....they need us to tell them they are way off base. If we (grassroots people) remain quiet or neutral we will lose the White House.

This election is about class warfare follow the money....the belittling of Obama was to send a message to use that they, the Republican elite , own this country...and see what we are doing to your Champion here on this convention floor....You underprivileged have no Hope....the only thing missing in that horrific scene of hatred was a rope and obama in the flesh.

But I must thank Obama for his courage because I am certain Obama has done nothing to deserve that treatment....and, for the first time, I realized neither had I when I suffered from this form of hatred in my workplace. I saw clearly for the first time my own American story....and I have been set free.

[wingnutslayer]

I'll never forget the Republican Convention of 2004 where the participants proudly held their charming Purple Heart Band-Aids up for the cameras (and all of America) to see. For the sake of one more cheap dig at John Kerrey's service, these self-proclaimed patriots slapped the face of every soldier returning from the Middle East with life-altering wounds and nothing to show for it but those medals. Whether it's wrapping their ideology up in the flag, God and some mythical superior morality or obliviously insulting the very people that they claim to speak for, the GOP (God's Own Party) have no shame. And those that fall for their act have no brain. There sure are a lot of them.

[nurmi]

On Palin, am I the only one that thinks she
goes to the same hairdresser as Marge Simpson?

v

[GOVSUX]

How old are you? 9

[old lady]

McCain Speech subtitle "stuck in a time warp "
Wolrd "fight"used 93 times -
P:OW experience rehashed ad nauseum - He seems unable to accept the loss olf the Vietnam war
and on a one-man crusade to redo that ending.
The irony & subrosa messaging oln torture - acceptable at Guantonomo and Abu Gharib -nolt acceptable used against Americans..
To paraphrase McCain's mantra that Obama would rather lose a war to win an election -
McCain would rather start a war than lose an election
RIP tol the Grand Old Party of Eisenhower, TR, Reagan & Goldwater. John McCain has solld out tol the Radical Fundamentalists to get nominated.
I look forward to a cohesive, organized and dominant 3d party of Independents kicking butt.

[rich5861]

I don't agree with you this time Nora. The Democrats were extremely impressive this year. I've never even seen anything close to the excitement and real meat at a convention­.....Ever!­!

To say the Republicans do it better has been true in the past but not this time, not this year. There is something different about this campaign, this candidate. The speeches by most of the Democrats were not just about what they will do this time but what the Rebublican won't do and refuse to ever do for the American people.

I have watched the conventions ever since I could first vote in 1976 and I have never been as proud of the Democrats convention as this one. To say they were not as effective and Republcans this time is crazy. They (rep) couldn't even fill up an auditorium and Obama filled up a Stadium!!!

I still love you though and always read and enjoy your post.

[iluvsam]

"To say the Republicans do it better has been true in the past but not this time, not this year."

I agree, but the problem is, the race is still close. Why is that? What is it about the other half of the population that the Dems cannot appeal to no matter how good of a campaign, no matter how bad a current administration, no matter how bad the Republican ticket is? Why is it that they can manage to pull Dems and independents to their side (Reagan Dems), but the Dems can't do the vice versa? There is something about human phychology that they get and we don't. Any social scientists out there anywhere?

[Beranek]

"How white they are"? Perhaps you didn't notice the 15--yes, 15!--black folks in the audience. Don't take my word for it. It was none other than a black Republican who verified that number.

[gman1232]

Don't forget the 3 Latinos holding a "Hispanics for McCain" sign and the Asian lady married to one of the vets they kept showing...

You may believe some of the merits of conservatism theory like small government and low taxes, but how can you be in a room or a convention when you know you're really not welcome? Just ask the guy from the Young Turks Radio show why he switched from being a Republican to a Democrat years ago...

Ironically, an old friend of mine who describes herself as Ultra Conservative asked me did I think Alan Keyes would make a better president than Obama. I laughed and caught her off guard. She then said, "What do you think of Alan Keyes?" I replied, "He's a Tom..."

I love the Big Tent of the Democratic Party and it's going to take all of us, plus a friend or two to get out and vote and encourage others. College students better get those absentee ballots turned in.

[Greytdog]

The RNC knows its base - white Christian gun-toting, babymaking people who would rather wipe you off the face of the earth than reach across the aisle.
I find it highly amusing that the RNC is decrying the media attention on Palin's pregnant teenage daughter (abstinence only really works!) but could make mean spirited jokes about Chelsea Clinton being pimped by her parents.

[nurmi]

Agree with Nora Ephron.
Palin came across to me as a Don Rickles in lipstick without the warmth. It was a great
delivery of one liners and she could have a future as a stand up comic but vp or possibly
president, it would be a disaster.

I nearly had the chills listening to what appeared to be a female savonarola who likes banning
books among other shared traits she may have with that florentine.

And, most importantly, a sense that this already divided country thanks to the past 8 years of an
administration that represented only half the american people (and did so proudly), will be
headed to complete divisiveness with a McCain/Palin administration.

We could at the start of the slippery slope to 3rd worldness as a country with such people in charge.

[uheardme]

If "Executive experience" was important to the Republicans, they would have nominated Gov. Mitt Romney for President. It's BS folks. That is all.

Biological plumbing and far-right wing ideology are important to the Republicans.

[lekili]

Nora, you are so right. They keep standing, because their base is afraid of change. Do they really think that the CEO of Exxon cares about them? He is the person that will get the tax breaks, not the middle class people of the republican party. But they keep going on because they use fear....fear of change.

[wrathofcon]

Fear of what? I fear Obama stealing my money and giving who doesn't deserve it. He can't deliver on what he promises unless he raises taxes on everybody. Most people who want higher taxes on other people usually don't have any money

[linux]

I see, you're a borrow and spend Republican.

Thanks to people like you, the Chinese OWN us.

[opinion123]

How can you people claim to love America so much and yet sell it to China? If your really loved this country you'd be willing to sacrifice to keep it in the hands of Americans. Look at how mush money we send to other countries to help their economy. America will self destruct if left to the ignorant positions of the ill informed. Stop listening to sound bytes and read (if you can) the truth about Obama's tax policy and maybe you'll be more enlightened.

[athenasword]

Specifics? What the heck are you talking about? (or better yet, who are you parroting?) He's talking about reducing taxes for 90% of Americans.

[leticia32]

wrathofcon, After 8 years of Bush I am amazed you have any money to steal. Our debt is 9 plus trillion dollars. Interest paid on that debt in August was $30,000,000,000. This is our debt, to be paid by generations to come. Iraq has a surplus of 94 million dollars, but we continue to send money there. We, our country, just promised to send a million dollars to Georgia. And check out the earmarks Palin got, through her lobbyist, for Alaska.