I don't know if I just really like punishing myself or what, but I can't stop desperately searching the headlines for some good or encouraging news on the political front.
Every once in a while there is something enouraging to cling to - the House blocking Bush's overtime rules, for example - but usually browsing the headlines is an infuriating and depressing excercise in self-inflicted torture.
So, the past couple of days have been particularly infuriating and torturous for those of us from Arizona. Here's a quick glimpse at some recent headlines from the Arizona Republic.
"66% in state favor anti-migrant issue"
"Memos' authenticity queried" (An article about CBS TANG memos being questioned by "experts." The article made right-wing loony conspiracy theories look credible and CBS look defensive.)
"Bush widens lead over Kerry in state"
"Conservatives oust GOP moderates" (an article about GOP loonies winning primary elections with less than 20% turnout. Basically their victory will end Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano's progressive initiatives.)
There have also been headlines that are good for us and bad for Republicans - deficits, healthcare costs, holes in national security, etc. - but the ones listed above and several others have me very worried about poltical trends.
In Arizona, Republicans enjoy a slight advantage over Democrats in terms of raw numbers - something like 42% Dem, 50% Assholes. Still, it seems as if our state has been hijacked by whackos again.
If this trend continues to November, Arizona will go for Bush. This will only embolden the local whackos and help them rally against the Dem minority. Hopefully it won't make a difference in the Presidential election, but it certainly won't help if Kerry loses Arizona.
Why is it that my idealism has to take such a relentless beating every fucking day? I'm not exagerating when I say that every single day I lose a little bit of pride in America and Americans. Sometimes I'm able to recover what's lost, other times not so much.
This diary has been mostly venting, but let me boil it down a bit. It seems that the trend is this: the sheeple are buying into smear and fear politics.
When you think about it, ours is the more complex world view and thus a lot less effective at convincing sheeple. Sheeple want easy answers. They want someone to blame for their frustrating, insignificant lives. They're cozy in their blanket of hate - it keeps them warm. And if the polls can be trusted at all, the sheeple represent a majority in America. It may be small, but it's a majority.
The Democratic National Convention was far more optimistic and politically positive than the Asshole National Convention, yet Bush gets a bounce in every poll taken. The sheeple want their hate and fear mongering, and the Assholes delivered.
So where does that leave us? Can someone help me focus on the good news? I might seem hopeless now, but as recently as three years ago I believed in America and the ideals it represented. I've never been good at losing. I'll admit that. But with everything I value on the line - civil liberties, the environment, education, scientific advancement, etc. - it's pretty damn hard to keep a positive attitude. Especially when the American sheeple are so goddamn oblivious to the agregious abuses and excesses of George Bush and his entire Administration. I guess that's it. I'm sure I'll bounce back as soon as there is some sign of progress.