(A fair warning to all: This is going to be an overtly negative diary, written as a means of catharsis. I won't mind any negative comments in response to it, but I hope you will at least be civil about it, as this is mostly a stream of consciousness vent)
So it's the day after. Despite all the GOTV campaigns, all the issues that should have gone in our favor, all the scandals that should have hobbled Bush, we still lost...
And by 'we', I don't mean the Kos-munnity, the Democratic Party, liberals, or the left wing. I mean 'we' as in America. We've lost our chance to vindicate ourselves in the eyes of our peers and the world. We have not only reelected Bush, but reelected him with a mandate for both him and the Repulican party. As a result, we have lost so much more than just a chance to change our leadership.
We've lost the momentum to strike a blow for gay rights, as proven by the overwhelming decisions by states to support gay marriage bans.
We've lost a chance to stem the tide away from a one-party state, as evidenced by the solidified control the Republicans found in Congress.
We've lost a chance to keep women's rights intact, judged by the fact that any SC judges that'd step down anytime soon would be no doubt replaced by far-right appointees.
We've lost the will to expose the real extremism for what it is, as shown by wins of such people like Coburn, as well as a seeming vindication of the denouncements and harrassments like those David Neiwert has kept track of.
We've lost the ability to recognize incompetance, evidenced by how we were so willing to return those who has left Osama alive, couldn't find WMDs, and left our troops unguarded, as well as potential dangers to our troops such as the explosives from Al-Qaqaa, to office.
We've lost the real notion of compassion, as those who felt that such actions like those in Abu Ghraib were justifiable, maybe even necessary, return to their posts.
We've likely lost the respect of most of the world, as we managed to re-elect a president who isolated and denigrated nearly all of our allies, a president most countries (aside from those like Iran) wanted to see go.
We've lost any sort of moral authority by returning these thugs into office, thereby vindicating their tactics and ideas.
We've lost the true spirit of America, as we've laid the groundwork for increasing inequality in this nation.
We've lost the true notion of freedom, as those who would stifle dissent see all the more reason to as they gain more power.
In other words, we've lost America as an idea.
You gave us hope once, America, but the Old Grey Mare just ain't what it used to be...and more than likely it never will be again. It may remain America in name...but I can't see us regaining the true spirit of it ever again. At least not in my lifetime.