Bushies manipulated this election into a referendum of "red lifestyle" versus "blue lifestyle
How did we miss this ? Because we're grownups!
Most of us would never act like an election is the WWF. For us, this was never about Bush being a "cowboy". It was about him and his advisors ACTING so irresponsibly with US' resources, troops, budget and diplomatic traditions.
Yet Bushies successfully drowned all our logical and reality based arguments of why NOT re-elect Bush How did they do it? With a mesh of "They call us DUMB but they are the ones who are girlie man cheese eating...".
They got a vote for Bush out of spite, out of manipulating the "reds" to vote against their best interests just to "show the blue states who is really in charge", out of stroking their bruised ego and giving them a reason to be "Proud to be a [redneck] American"
How the DUMB Argument was manipulated by Rove/ Bush to make Dems loose big this year (below the fold)
How the DUMB Argument was manipulated by Rove/ Bush to make Dems loose big this year
Would you vote for people who openly call you dumb ? I wouldn't and I suspect very few would. Bush is not a bible thumping redneck hick, but he plays one in TV. And we make fun of him mercilessly. Who are we really laughing at ?
Proof is on the peach custard
If you still have any doubt this vote was the ballot equivalent of a "nia-nia-nia-nia-na" by a clique of spiteful high school kids, just read THEIR newspapers. Are they happy they won, commemorating and thinking about the future ? No they aren't, are they ?
They are busy gloating and writing reams and reams about how we misundrestimated them, about how we said this, did that...
To the "reds" it was always about us blues
They can't let go of it. Most are angry, scared and miserable after their big win. It's starting to dawn on them the extent of the childish behavior they just have been doing.. And the extent of the damge they may have done to themselves and the country...
I just saw this e-mail from a e-friend of mine who was a Bush fanatic:
I'm scared sh*tless of this [backdoor draft]. I left service early after Gulf War 1 and I maybe called this next year. My wife will be hard pressed to take care of the twins by herself when they are born...
Yet he NEVER acknowledged any fear of being sent to Iraq before Nov 2. On the contrary, his mantra was "Bring them on!"... So why did he vote for the guy who would make his and his family's life miserable ?
Answering to the ones who are starting to open their eyes
I answered to one of my "spiteful vote" e-friends like this
It never was about Bush, the cowboy
It never was against Bush - the person, his cowboy boots or his blue jeans on the ranch You guys internalized and personalized every criticism of Bush but it was never about HIM.
It has always been about never being given the opportunity to have a unquestionable outcome out of Florida, regardless of who won at the end. About our government, yours and mine, not giving a serious thought - and frank debate - about the consequences of going to Iraq.
About the lack of contingency planning, i.e IF the "flower shower" approach failed what could the outcome be and what would be the best approach to it. About the true extent of the WMD threat and how a war against Iraq with 1/4th of the recommended troops would protect US from it or not.
About boycotts being "sedition"
As for sedition, I seem to recall being called terrorist supporter, anti-American, being accused of providing aid and comfort to Bin Laden ,just for using my right to free speech. You reap what you sow. You keep telling us we're NOT America, well then don't expect us to remember we are just because you fear for Wal-Mart's bottom line.
The WWF approach to elections
When Eric Shinshenski told Congress Iraq needed 400,000 troops YOUR GUY answered with a sound byte. Pretty costly sound byte IMHO. Cheerleading and defending "your side" regardless of any other consideration, moral or otherwise works with WWF or baseball. The Red Sox never lost anyone's arm or leg and never took away anyone's kid. This is not a game.
We are all in this boat together and you guys are pushing us out, and choosing a captain out of spite. You expect we pay for the whole trip but refuse us any input on the route, the speed and the direction we're heading.
I hope you guys know what you're doing because we will all pay for your ego trip