Well, havent you heard that one?
My mother's ABB of choice happens to be Mickey Mouse ... and she strongly dislikes a couple of the candidates, and has been telling off our GOP-Lite party for a while now when they call or write for money, while keeping her check book closed.
In another diary Mussolini was mentioned as an ABB possibility.
Besides the fact that, of those three choices, only the mold is living, and I dont know how it stands on issues of war, peace and SCOTUS appointments, this ABB stuff is troubling to me. If you vote Mickey Mouse, dont you get Mickey Mouse?
To be ABB or not to Be ... that is my question.
Its a fork in the road that's a real stumper for this Dean supporter.
I, personally, think ABB will prevail, and I think Kerry has a good shot at winning the presidency. But will short term measures stretch toward long term correction, or is that too much of a long shot? Should we shoot for our long term goal by standing strong for the winds of change rather than the wind-testers?
I imagine I would feel guilty if I, along with enough other NON-ABBers, were able to cause a Bush win; we know he's gonna fuck things up more. BUT, I am also very troubled at how little passionate outcry and resistance we got from our cagey candidates until Dean made things hot, people responded by POLL, and it became ok for the go-alongs to say what they say NOW. Hasnt that been the pattern for too long?
Was it okay for Edwards to get populist religion or Kerry to belately dis Bush above a whisper on the war because they really had an epiphany? Nah, it's okay because the polls told them so. Even if they are naturally more comfortable with the progressive versions they now hotly orate, they seemed MOST comfortable when following the polls or the poll-driven DLC, in lieu of adhering to their lofty, progressive ideals. That doesnt make me very comfortable with the notion of voting them in.
Havent we been in crisis with the corruptness of our country pre-Bush, with these BadBushTimes just showing how nutty we can turn on a dime? Havent we long been in crisis with our wretched lack of deliverance to our many underserved citizens on so many levels -- a nightmarish joke when compared to all other developed nations? Wasn't our ignorant apathy fed during the 'Good Times' by our beastly, upped-to-35% media market shares? (Clinton!). This is the same media that has appointed itself as selector of our candidate, and it sure AINT Dean.
Isnt it important to ask why, during the reign of GWB, Wellstone's hot and true passion or Feingold's cool, stand-tough resolve was a rarity, an exception? (To become even moreso after Paul's death.) Why were the chambers and our airwaves so devoid of the full throated shouts for justice, equality and quality of life for ALL that we now witness? Why was Byrd so alone when he laid out how WRONG we were on this war, before the first bomb was dropped?
Well, take for example our Liberal West Coaster, Senator Diane Feinstein, who, although not running for Prez, has been a good example of an Establishment Democrat who has been failing us big time. Yet, she is highly respected by the party and the media. Hey, why not? She's well-spoken, measured, cautionary, level-headed, nuanced and ... wobbly-wobbley-wobbley with a tilt that has her ending up with the GOP so often I wanna wring her neck! She was 3 for 3 in capitulating on the tax cuts, WAR and medicare bill. Each of her AYE-Bush votes were recorded after her caveat-laden notes were sounded, of course, just so we could see how smart (and CYA) she was. BlahdeeBlahBlah.
How do we change things, if we dont break through this cozy and deeply ingrained groove to get along? When will it be time to send a MESSAGE, not a president? When we are flush again?
But how long will that take, and, more importantly, if we get back to that 90's groove, how many of us will NOT be anywhere near flush, but just treading water below the Fort Knox of the upper crust? A lot, but probably not enough by the Media's account, by the politicians' talking points, to create the groundswell needed for upheaval against the corruption and coldheartedness that permeates our system, not enough to sound the battle cry to make war on the beast and bust the crust. Remember the 90's?
So, the answer to the "IF not NOW, then when?" question is probably NEVER. Meaning we will limp along, with the Haves having too much, the Have-Nots too little. We will have to endure those elaborate excuses for the pollution, business cheats, corporate monopoly control of our media and much else, which will control us. We will be surprised by more wars cheered on by attendant flag waving crowds if we get attacked again, out of the 'unsuspecting' back-to-shopping blue. Then we will start all over again. Hey, bright spot: those little USA flags, made in China, are cheap enough for ALL of us, arent they?
So do we staunch the bleeding of the crisis that is GW Bush by going ABB or do we staunchly stand our ground against this wretched system rife with evil-doodle legislation and go-alongs? Our best friends from the Hill, who want our presidential votes NOW, hardly acted like GWB was a CRISIS till they needed our votes. Remember all those GWB enabling votes? Remember that pathetic Election 2002 drone emenating from the Dems?
So, do we resist the ESTABLISHED way, that has become corrupt, a miserable failure, to quote one recently departed failure on the campaign trail -- or do we bet on the short term solution, tempted by the exaggerated crisis Bush has shaken us with, hoping to be made whole once he's replaced with one of "ours".