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?
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Please I want to see them pick up the statement by Mrs. Palin that it was her daughter who made the choice to continue the pregnancy. Am I heariang things. Did she really say CHOICE? Is that the same choice that she/they do not want other women to have.
Now me: I have seven. The last at 40. then there was the plans to have the amniocnetesis. The doctors plans not ime. He didn't know me. Oksy Doc, don't bother, It's mine I'm keeping him/her. My choice, never could have made any other. FREE WILL, you think if I had wanted it otherwise and the law said no the great Mystery would have let me claim the proper choice for my own. Heck no. Oh yes for those that don't mind the Mystery is, you know, God.
You are so spot on when you note the mean spirited behavior, sarcasm, ridicule, superior looks and actions I find with Republicans.
Actually not those who are just kind of quoting and copying Daddy. They just seem kind of lost.
Must I think so many are just those who never met a "fact" they wanted to check.
Glad to know I wasn't the only one that noticed almost everyone at the republican convention , was of a cookie cutter demograhic. Middleaged,white,& wearing a cowboy hat seem to be the norm.Not one black or hispanic face to be seen...I know the convention was in minnesota, but come on, you would think that there would some diversity here and there (I also would like to point out I saw very few people that looked even close to my age there,(I am 24)
At the democratic convention there was a mishmash of all kinds of different people .
This whole election is frikkin weird and confusing...
I am crossing my fingers and hoping for the best.
Punky/Kristy
The cameras found 2 black people. There were also some young people--sitting next to their older parents in a clearly patriarchal order of seating. Isn't that good enough?
(joking--except it isn't funny)
Nora, nora, nora....
I usually find your posts to be amusing, and acutely insightful. But your comment about Republicans being "white, thin lipped, and mean-spirited" was off putting.
I do not agree in group generalizations. Yes, there is much that I find troubling, and even scary with the current Republic platform. However, I have known many Republicans, who as individuals are kind, caring, and compassionate....and act accordingly, on a daily level, removed from the dictates of the Federal government.
Let's not fall into te current campaign speak of making gross generalities of a group.
I say this not only to you, but as a reminder to me, that supporting Obama/Biden is not enough.
We all, as individuals, need to be more civil, more caring, more kind....often easier said than done.
May we generalize that they are all misguided, ignorant, and closed-minded? They absolutely have to be, to vote Republican after the last 7.5 years.
There comes a point where your civility and kindness aren't doing the country any favors. These people need to be reminded how their voting habits are ruining the world.
It's the EMPORER'S NEW CLOTHES. The Republicans have turned "the emporer's new clothes" into an art form. They rally around an unqualified, moronic, wing-nut and they are ALL IN - 100%- they circle the wagons and are enthusiastic beyond comprehension. They look at the naked candidate and say (with a straight face) how their clothes are so beautiful. They rallied behind Bush for 8 years and look what we have. I am astonished that everyone is buying into this. Astonished.
In addition - anyone who has kids (much less FIVE of them) knows how much time it takes to be a mother. It is impossible to do both governing and mothering effectively at the same time. It's not possible. She may be adequate at both, but she can not be a great mother. She cannot be helping them with homework or watching them play with their friends because she is at work. In the words of Eunice Shriver ... woman can have it all in a lifetime, but they can't have it all at the same time.
Why is everyone ... (Jesus help me even MSNBC tonight was praising her performance!) buying into this frighteningly unqualfied, cynical political decision of John McCain?
This is a key point that I wish Obama and Biden would make: If McCain's campaign wants to define Presidential potential in terms of "executive" experience, how do they explain the fact that both Bush and Cheney's executive experience trumps McCain and Palin's, and yet look at what they managed to do to our country!
What's does executive experience matter?? The answer is - not much in itself. Trying to run our country like a corporation has proven to be a huge mistake.
Vision, intelligence, and experience with constructing a democracy is what counts.
I also thought the people at the repug convention were creepy and brainwashed.
I got tired of hearing that only republicans love their country, are patriots, want to help people........so on and so forth. I am a DEMOCRAT! I love being an American! I like to see the flag waving in the wind. My dad was a pilot in WWII, he flew many missions over Europe. My uncle was a POW on Wake Island. My dad came back and finished college and became a beloved highschool teacher, coach and counselor. My mom stayed home and raised six children. She and my dad are my heroes.
Most of you are more eloquent than I and i did go off topic sorry.... Ms. Ephron, I totally agree with your blog.
Absolutely spot on Nora. Spot on.
What now?
Get out to true battleground states and talk to people, one on one. I for one am working with the Latino communities. This is no joke.
HuffPost's Pick
Part 3 of 3
And, it should not be lost on us that here is a man who was beaten and imprisoned and could not even feed himself and claims he learned the lesson that "no man can always stand alone." When just the night before, 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. They've testified before Congress that they believe they "earned" the profit, even as people are struggling to get to work. Those of you that watch C-SPAN know what I'm talking about.
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. Heaven help us, we don't need four more!
HuffPost's Pick
Part 2 of 3
Former Homeland Security director, Tom Ridge, hinted darkly at "leaving nothing to chance" when it came to terrorism; does this mean we will continue to invade countries we dislike?
And what of the phrase, "we have to catch up to history" when discussing global trade. Is this the transnational bankers and oil men speaking who wish to dissolve all country borders to create one world government so they can make all the money all the time?
Their self-congratulory statements could hardly have been missed; "WE are the party of Abe Lincoln" was stated continuously, as was the word "Maverick" to describe McCain. "WE are a special and exceptional party," shot down any attempts to be inclusive. "Self-reliance" was the code word for "do it yourself.... like I did."
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. Have they completely forgotten about the hungry, parentless children in our own country?
HuffPost's Pick
Part 1 of 3
What came across loud and clear this night was that those that create great wealth feel ENTITLED to keep every penny of it. Joe Gibbs basically stated that those that follow God's plan are prosperous and those that do not, get poor health and poverty. He sees a direct correlation between those that follow "God's Game Plan" and those that don't. He also believes a "spiritual revival" is the answer to all of our ills.
The Republicans have always been short-term thinkers. They want vouchers for private schools, which will cause our public schools to deteriorate, so they can send their children to private and charter schools. They want to drill for oil in Alaska, which will poison the water and land, but deliver profits to oil stockholders. They want to invest overseas, and reteach you how to do something else. They want healthcare for themselves, but not for you. They want to own a home or two or three, but you deserve to lose yours when money is owed to investors. They want wear Dior dresses and diamonds, and in order for them to do that, you have to shop at dioscount stores. They believe that money is a gift from God; they have been blessed and it is their birthright.
Because the of the mess of Bush and his cronies have caused...the US is on the world stage.
Watching the DNC convention showed a picture of color & diversity and hope.
Watching the RNC convention showed a picture of angry white people.
These are the same people who voted for W...TWICE. Now they want to pretend someone else put him there and they want change?
The insurance actuarial death rates, rate a 72 yr old man like McCain as having ONLY a 1 in 3 chance of living to 80 (2 terms).
He only has a 50% chance of living to 75-76.
America, meet Sarah Palin. Fundamentalist, flat-earth, creationist Theocracy here we come. Oh holy hell.
It's not that they're buying this.
It is that they are rejecting what was foisted onto them by the Democrats.
When half the party told you no beforehand and you did it any way, well...What do you expect.?
It was time to put a woman into play. Obama's spiteful intransigence has cost him an election.
I have spent a thoroughly startled day listening to local women whom I would have bet on being terminally apolitical all starting conversations with Did you with The Speech last night. And it sure wasn't Obama's they were referring to.
Palin is gathering them in like a magnet in a nail bin.
Obama lost the election last night. Pragmatismo trumps rhetoric any old time.
the only surprise is the Role Reversal . Gritty Palin is no Mother Courage Democrat , but a Populist republican. Obama could be the darling of any GOP gathering with his entitlement, Southside Mansion, bullying True Believers and Chicago machine aspirations.
Hillary Clinton could have saved him. But how do you save an Icarus bent on freefall?
He's cold toast.
Tough luck
gala1
That's why Obama is still leading in a majority of the polls and the electoral count.
Keep dreaming.
Glad to know I wasn't the only one that noticed almost everyone at the republican convention , was of a cookie cutter demograhic. Middleaged,white,& wearing a cowboy hat seem to be the norm.Not one black or hispanic face to be seen...I know the convention was in Minnesota, but come on, you would think that there would be some diversity here and there (I also would like to point out I saw very few people that looked even close to my age there,(I am 24)
.
This whole election is frikkin weird and confusing...I feel confused and dizzy by everything happening all at once.
I am crossing my fingers and hoping for the best.
Punky/Kristy
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