The two distinct responses we saw to Katrina and Rita, one of callous disregard, the other arising from a heightened response to scrutiny, provides the clearest and most tragic understanding of the present incarnation of the GOP. For years, they presented themselves as the party of "grown ups", sober, responsible, business-like, and professional, with the metal to tackle the rough work of governance. Instead, in the light of the last five years of GOP hegemony, we come to find we are not ruled by adults. We are subject to sophomoric adolescence, constantly complaining about "hard work", trying to shift blame for their actions, spending money like it grows on trees, and total void of any consequence.
And it is our own damn fault.
Why? Because we don't want to have grown ups running the show. Grown ups are no fun. They were suits. They don't complain about hard work, they get down to work. They want to see the fruits of their hard work (results) come to fruition. And, if they make a mistake, they humbly try to remedy the situation. This past election, we were not presented with adult candidates. We saw images of John Kerry windsurfing and George Bush clearing brush. We were asked by polling agencies "who would you rather have a beer with" as if that would be the deciding factor in negotiating with North Korea, might reduce the colossal budget deficit, better educate our kids, or create a viable energy policy. Youth and ease trumped responsibility and service. The GOP went as far as to start a campaign of schoolyard taunting "do you really want Frankenstein as your President?" The Democrats responded by running to teacher (the media) and crying that the GOP wasn't playing fair. Too much was at stake, but the bulk of the electorate is hoodwinked into believing that regardless of who is in office, their lives will pretty much remain the same. That is why we waste our time on divisive issues like gay marriage or abortion: people truly believe that both the GOP and Democrats are crooked and neither one will have much of an impact on their lives. They can devote their attentions to abstract issues that don't or won't affect them.
So at one time, the GOP created the mythology of their maturity, and at the same time, wanted the country to know that George Bush was a down to earth everyman with boyish charm, an authoritative swagger, and smart people backing him up (the adults). It was Nixonian jujitsu/bait and switch at its very best and won the day.
Now, in the wake of two devastating natural disasters, we see what happens when votes are thrown into the breeze...breeziness of the GOP noise machine. Our poorest and most vulnerable are dead, dying, and displaced. Our nation is in the most perilous state since the Great Depression. The world community is sick and tried of accommodating our childish regime. And the GOP and its cronies are running in fifteen different directions, carpet bombing the media with accusations, whispers, and out right lies, trying to get out from under this disaster of their own desires, but by our making.
Now many of this community will comment, "surely, I did not support Bush and the GOP campaign, therefore your premise is incorrect". The fact is, we are all in this together. We Democrats, with our inability to present a persuasive, cogent, and consistent message, coupled with our lackluster organizing / mentoring, and our piss poor party discipline, allowed the GOP to steam roll on in. We are still smarting from our devastating loss in 1994 and marvel at Newt Gringrich's "Contract with (on) America)". Do we have something similar in the works? No. Are we united in opposing the Bush agenda as best we can in congress (including the nomination of Judge Roberts)? No. We are too concerned with comity and not wanting to be seen as obstructionist. Are we starving Fox news of their access to start compelling responsible journalism? No. Every weekend, elected Democrats are at the ready to prostitute themselves to position for their 2008 campaigns.
We have sown the wind. We are reaping the whirlwind. Whether it is a bitter harvest or one of bounty depends on how we proceed.
Cross Posted at Street Prophets