Thursday, November 6, 2008

Aftermath Part Two

(Note: If this post rambles it's because I wrote it over the course of November 5, while trying to get a sense of the feel of the country. Also, I have the day off which means endless kid interruptions.)


The Morning After

I woke up at 7:15 to my usual routine, got the boy off to the preschool, then settled into the blogrolls. I didn't have a hangover, despite the whiskey and the late night (1 AM). Fox News was going on about the results and is analyzing them from every angle, including some that the even the faithful would consider unnatural. So to get my mind straight (and because a commercial for them came on), I pulled my Christmas CD collection out of it's closet position, and threw in the Trans-Siberian Orchestra CD.

Yeah, it's November 5, it's going to be 70+ degrees again, I was outside in shorts, and I decided to listen to Christmas music. Just to let you in on a secrtet, I play a little Christmas music now and then just because. I'll write on this later when Christmas actually gets here, but there's just something special and more joyous about that time of year, and the music can always take me there.

Naturally, on the blogs I found the combination of commiserating Republicans, pissed conservatives, joyous liberals, and angry moonbats still angry despite their candidate winning. So I'm just going to try to cover what strikes my fancy over the day.


Good Emotion

While some of the things being said were laughable, including the usual drivel about how this completely changes America (I hope not!), I did, after a while thinking about it, realize that to people who have believed they would always be getting the shaft because of the color of their skin just saw the bar of possibilities go through the roof. What really got to me was Jesse Jackson. Here's an almost certifiable race whore, someone who plays the race game so dirty that he was caught ripping Obama on an open mike only a few months ago. But when the camera found him in Chicago after the race was called for Obama, he was truly emotional. This was not a scripted moment; this was not him being the same dick he usually is. So in that sense, the dynamic of race was changed in this country. And for all the asinine things that will be said (see yesterday's post), there's something good in seeing a glimpse of what it was like when Jesse was young and the fight was won back in 1964.


Talk Radio

I listened to a good chunk of it (being off) just to see what they were saying:

Neal Boortz - Neal put up the rule than no one was allowed to call in and piss on the Obama celebration, primarily because it's low class to shit in someone's cereal after the election is over. Other than that, of course, it was speculation and personal plans on what to do once Obama enters the White House. It was generally an upbeat and humorous show.

Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity - Well, they were unified in their message, one I beat them to! HAHAHAHAHA!!!!! That message, of course was that this was not a defeat for conservatism. I'd talk more, but I only heard the first half hour of Rush and the last half hour of Sean, as I decided to do my first wave of my Christmas shopping.

I've pretty much got the kids done. Walmart is the reason I can make my kids sooooo happy. Plus, it gave me a reason to have a day out. I could tell you about the Christmas village stuff I saw, but a picture says much more.


Arrogant in Victory - I've noticed a lot of the conservative blogs have thrown up the moderation recently. Even I toyed with the idea as the vitriol got flowing. But now, it's time to come together along with our new president. And that means not being dicks about it.

Now, as for those of you who did see your candidate win and you want to come here and rub it in, I'll remind you to grow the fuck up, right after I delete your blather. It's over, your side won, and we have a few months of transition before we really get back to the vitriol. So have your ceebrations and respect that we are working to regroup. And smile. There's no reason to be an asshat.


Gracious in Defeat

President Bush and Senator McCain have shown themselves to be gracious in defeat in statements they have made since the outcome was known. Not all of the the blogs I visit have been so, of course. But I will highlight the ones who are either gracious or upbeat, and not dwelling in anger, because knowing how to lose is almost as important as winning:

Right Think with Rivka
Conservatism with Heart
Dragon Lady's Den
Bullgrog's Blog

(And I'll update this as needed)


Smoke 'em If You Got 'em!

I'm really tired of politics. So don't be surprised if my next post is much less political.

Today is gone. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.
Every day, from here to there, funny things are everywhere.

32 comments:

Bullfrog said...

Thanks for the mention. I suspect I will burn myself out in a day or 2 on politics.

Christmas music? That I have to hear about...

Patrick M said...

If you've ever heard TSO, or seen the vid where they synchronize the Christmas lights on the house, you know what I mean. Here's the link. That's one of the songs I cranked up today.

I think I'm going to start embedding some of these once we get into Christmas proper.

Dionne said...

Thanks for the link.

I hate comment moderation but I had vicious people commenting on my blog this past month and even one comment that I had to call the police about.

So, I had no choice but to put it up. I will probably take it off as things simmer down but my traffic has increased significantly and with that comes more hateful libs.

TAO said...

Patrick,

Put the christmas music away and switch to Thanksgiving music and my reccommendations are:

Thanksgiving - A Windham Hill Collection

Autumn - George Winston (also a Windham Hill Collection)

Now, I am not trying to infringe upon your personal liberties or anything.... :)

Anonymous said...

The election may be over, but the fight still goes on.

American who cares;
While I agree with the sentiment of your comment 100 percent, I don't agree with the name calling.
Soapbox You need a lobotomy.

Patrick M said...

Dee: No Problem. You can send the crazies here. I like ripping them. But I'm getting angry Repubs too.

Tao: There's T-day music too? Crap. :)

Oh well, time to fire up the FrostWire and start downloading...

Conservative: It's simply a matter of understanding why the GOP lost and fixing that. I covered that part in yesterday's post. Which brings me to the rest of your comment.

For clarification, Assclown that CARES!!! got deleted because he simply reposted that exact same comment from the prior day, misquoted the Soapster who was quoting me, and took the whole thing out of context to boot. And the context was explaining why the GOP went wrong and why the "leadership" (or lack thereof) needs to get back to conservative principles.

Anonymous said...

George Soros finally got what he wanted! I have a feeling that his influence is going to extend well beyond the campaign stage. Everybody was touting what a great campaign Obama was running. But he wasn’t running it. It was running him. With enough money you can buy anything. You can buy extreme order. George Soros is going to continue coddling Obama through his presidency to make him look good. He will likely be in contact with foreign leaders, buying their cooperation and easing their fears.
The Democratic take over of congress was probably engineered long in advance. This also makes Obama’s job easier and insulates him from the tough issues that presidents have to deal with in terms of senate battles between Republicans and Democrats. George Soros likely bought Obama an Army of advisors to answer any and all questions. Remember, Soros is the financial genious that made his money off of the securities markets. He may have even had a hand in crashing the stock market to favor the Democrats just before the election.
There is no way that the most unqualified presidential candidate in history got to where he did without such massive help. Some have speculated that after Obama won the Presidency, the media would turn on him and the honeymoon would be over but there is a broader agenda. Soros is buying up all of these newspapers that are endorsing Obama which is an attempt at a Socialist propaganda state. He will likely retain his control over the large media networks as well. What is the price Obama pays for having his ego stoked? An agenda that makes George Soros the grand puppet master of planet Earth!

And Soapxox God or whatever God you are today
As for McCain needing to get back to conservative principles.
I’ve been reading that same old same old bullshit from the Soapbox kid for over a year now. Get a new line, it’s getting boring.

Patrick M said...

Stones: Thanks for the pointless, bitter talking points. It doesn't mean a damn now, because the point before was to win. And people like the Soapster (and I, if you check yesterday's post out) have been warning the GOP that they weren't on the winning track.

But no, you simply want to rant on about all the evil that is going to be behind President Obama. Now when the evidence begins surfacing, we'll hold the President's feet to the fire on it. But right now, you're wasting time. The GOP needs torn down and rebuilt now, boot camp style.

My suggestion: Sit back with a nice cigar, a good adult beverage, and enjoy the upcoming holiday season. Then, sometime in February, we'll open a happy little shitstorm for our new President. It will almost be too easy.

Anonymous said...

People. People. People.

It isn't the end of America as we know it.

Unfortunately.

Neither is it the dawn of a brand new day with a future shiny and bright. It definitely won't be one Kumbaya moment after another. It was a major step electing an Black American president but it doesn't end racial discrimination and, after all these years, continued unequal opportunity. But it's another milestone nonetheless.

It was an election and the GOP unsurprisingly got thumped. They wrecked the economy. They ruined our reputation world wide (And, contrary to what many here think it is important we get along with our neighbors. Remember your own kindergarten days.). And they inserted us into two unnecessary wars neither likely to end either soon or particularly well. They did not one thing to ease our dependence on foreign oil (Drill here. Drill now is not a policy, but a campaign slogan). They did nothing to ease the medical care crisis. They exhibited near complete disregard for the environment and on. And on. And on. Indeed we're fortunate George wasn't able to hand SS over to his Wall Street cronies. Not through lack of effort mind you but there are far too many people still around unwilling to go back to the days before such social insurance.

And, most humiliating of all, the established as official policy, from the Presidency itself, the use of torture.

So George can get on with 'filling the old coffers' (I don't expect to see him swinging a hammer for Habitat for Humanity anytime soon). He won't be missed. And Dick can find a new underground bunker somewhere to hone his misanthropy at someone else's expense.

And the new President and Congress can get to work cleaning up the mess they left behind.

Cheers!

James Manning said...

I have noticed a calm. I think everyone is just happy that it is over and now we have to move on to get this country back on track.

I've even lost my joying in spewing "Bush is a spawn of the devil". :( It served me well for all these years. I'm going to do one more political post then I'm done with it.

As for black people, you stated it correctly. It marks a new chapter and I imagine that the way we approach Black History Month will forever change.

Anonymous said...

Patrick M said...
Stones: "Thanks for the pointless, bitter talking points. It doesn't mean a damn now, because the point before was to win. And people like the Soapster (and I, if you check yesterday's post out) have been warning the GOP that they weren't on the winning track.
But no, you simply want to rant on about all the evil that is going to be behind President Obama. Now when the evidence begins surfacing, we'll hold the President's feet to the fire on it. But right now, you're wasting time."

Pointless?, Wasting time?, Bitter?

Look Mr. "Delete Comments" do you have a monopoly on what you can say and what you can't?

You use every curse word in the book and you find that to be fine, but my posts are bitter and pointless. And the GOD of Soap can get into raging hissy or sissy fits and you don't seem to mind that either.
So be my guest and delete away!

Anonymous said...

James Manning said... "I've even lost my joying in spewing "Bush is a spawn of the devil"

Why because The Black Jesus, The Ceasar of the Black Panthers, Sporn of George Soros is in Power now?
Well thanks a lot for NOTHING! But it's MY time now. I havn't lost my joying in spewing Barack Hussein Obama "His Holiness"

So get used to it.

Shaw Kenawe said...

James Manning said... "I've even lost my joying in spewing "Bush is a spawn of the devil"

Why because The Black Jesus, The Ceasar of the Black Panthers, Sporn of George Soros is in Power now?
Well thanks a lot for NOTHING! But it's MY time now. I havn't lost my joying in spewing Barack Hussein Obama "His Holiness"

So get used to it.


Get used to it?

Hunky chunks, we on the left have been listening to it for years--remember Hitlery? The lesbian murderer of Vince Foster who slept with him?

Let's all just STFU--except for Patrick, his epithets are pretty funny because he reminds me a lot of Lewis Black and his rage.

Stones and Carpenter, cool it. No one's out to get you are piss on your America. We're all in the same boat. We want a decent life and a future for our children and an end to wars.

And I'm going to push Obama's creed:

There's no red America; there's no blue America. There's only the United States of America.

So let's all get nekkid and purple.

Shaw Kenawe said...

That should be:

No one's out to get you OR piss on your America.

Anonymous said...

Shaw Kenawe said... "We want a decent life and a future for our children and an end to wars"

We will see what we will see.

Patrick M said...

Arthur: It isn't the end of America as we know it.

Unfortunately.


I'll ignore your parting Bush shot and focus on this.

America has been a place of freedom (albeit imperfectly) for centuries. So what specifically is unfortunate that is not ending?

James: It's good to let go of the anger. But don't go too far away, there's going to be plenty to talk about.

Stones: Simple question: What purpose does it serve to rip into Obama for his Soros connection today, other than to be bitter about losing?

Answer that, and you'll understand and cease clinging bitterly, to borrow a phrase. Mind you, it's not to guns and religion, but to the idea of being and staying pissed about things and not looking forward.

And as for deleting (which gives me a reason to suggest rereading the last paragraph), I only wipe out completely off-topic blather so hopefully something intelligent can be discussed.

FTC: What Shaw said. Except maybe for the nekkidness.

Shaw: And I'm going to push Obama's creed:

There's no red America; there's no blue America. There's only the United States of America.

So let's all get nekkid and purple.


Obama's added nekkid and purple? That'll make for some interesting YouTube clips.

Or are you just channeling me? :)

Anonymous said...

Patrick M said...
Stones: Simple question: What purpose does it serve to rip into Obama for his Soros connection today, other than to be bitter about losing?

Does everything that I write have to suit your purpose?
It suits mine.
Why the HELL don't you question anyone else’s posts?
If you don't want me to post here just have the balls to say so.
Every time I write a post, I get scolded by you and I'm sick of it, I feel like I'm back in school.

This happened before and I stayed away from here, until you started posting on my blog so I felt like I would return the favor, but i see now it's not going to work.
I don’t need to play these games with you or anyone else.
Go butter up your little boy Soapbox, I think he need some hugs and love. I don’t
I go for women.

Rightwingsnarkle said...

this was not a defeat for conservatism.

I'd just like to make two points:

1. I believe that it was indeed a very clear and broad rejection of how the government's been run, going back to Reagan. That is, a rejection of economic policies that only serve to improve the lot of the very highest income levels; and a rejection of the idea expressed by Reagan that "government is the problem."

I think this vote shows that the majority of folks in this country want government to have a role - like in regulating large corporate enterprises, tempering excess, and providing basic services that meet human needs (infrastructure, health care, a financial safety net to keep vulnerable people from sinking into poverty, etc.).

If you look at the national distribution of how individual counties voted, specifically whether the republicans or the democrats picked up a larger share of the vote this year versus 2004, you'll see that the republicans only increased their share of the vote in counties laregly clustered around the Appalachian region.

By contrast, the Democrats increased their share of the vote across the country. That's significant.

On a broader scale, you can see it in the states that switched from red to blue. The percentage swings are big, mostly in the double digits.

2. Limbaugh, Hannity, and pretty much every other talk radio wingnut agitator cares about one thing, and one thing only - their careers, and the money it brings.

They've got to say whatever it takes to keep people tuning in, because ratings drive ad revenue and syndication. They get better ratings bellowing bullshit and feeding discontent than by exploring issues.

They serve no purpose other than themselves. They're entertainers. Their shows don't lead to a better informed electorate. Anything and everything they say is suspect.

My two cents.

Bullfrog said...

Shaw: "So let's all get nekkid and purple."

ROTF!!

Stone Thrower: it's good to share opinions, but you have to be willing to get picked at some.

TAO said...

Stones...

You need to give up on the Soros conspiracy issue....people might thing you are crazy!

Obama has friends that have alot more money than Soros, such as Warren Buffet and Bill Gates...

You know I always thought that the Bush Administration was a conspiracy...basically, it goes like this...

Cheney, Rumsfield, Bush I and Bush II all worked for Richard Nixon and they all were quite close, in fact I have pictures of them all huddled together working on whatever it was that Nixon would have them working on...my conspiracy is that they detested the way Nixon was treated and decided to eventually take over our country and destroy it to get even with all of us for the way Nixon was treated....

It sure explains alot and then it doesn't explain a damn thing...

Here is another conspiracy for you....you realize that the world is coming to an end in 2012...its been predicted for thousands of years....so, what happens before the second coming? Yep...thats Obama....:)

If Soros cashed in everything he owned and "bought" our government he would have enough to control our government for two days at best!

Now, loosen up and enjoy yourself...we are down to three years and a month or so....

Bullfrog said...

rightwing...: You had me with the rejection of government because I agree that folks felt disenfranchised and absolutely voted against Republicans this year. From there you just started barfing liberal talking points:

Reagan had pretty wide, bi-partisan support, hence the term "Reagan Democrat".

Supply-side economics only helping the rich? This is too tired to even address, and the consensus is that if businesses stay happy, we are all happy and it works.

"Tempering excess"? I don't work hard every day so every year my boss can NOT give me a nice raise and a bonus, THAT would fit your description of Tempering Excess, would it not?

If you think the states that switched from red to blue did so on a permanent basis, please keep thinking that so conservatism can come back with a vengeance in 2010 and 2012 and prove you wrong.

The only reason you know so much about Rush and Hannity is because YOU LISTEN TOO, proving that their appeal is bi-partisan which explains their success.

Anonymous said...

patrick m asked:

So what specifically is unfortunate that is not ending?

Guns, 'Jesus', the 'pro-life movement', 'Preservation of Marriage', 'curing' Gays. PNAC. Intelligent Design. The Discovery Institute. John (Weepy) Boehner. Michael Medved.

The usual 'Christian'-Right Wing-American Exceptionalism suspects.

TAO said...

bullfrog...

If this statement is true, "Supply-side economics only helping the rich? This is too tired to even address, and the consensus is that if businesses stay happy, we are all happy and it works." then why do we have recessions? Businesses have enjoyed quite a run of profitable quarters...and yet they fear the futre...why? Is it because their profits are dependent upon consumers buying? You realize that 2/3 of all economic activity in the US is consumer based....if consumers quit buying, companies are not happy and they do not make money....

If everyone quit buying then would there be companies? The trouble with supply side economics is that it only focuses on one side of the basic economic equation and for any economic activity to occur you have to have supply AND DEMAND....

Too much of one and not enough of the other causes problems....

If you actually study supply side economics they agree that there are two issues with the theory that need to be addressed and one is that supply side economics creates asset bubbles and the other is income stagnation both of which are caused by wealth concentration...

Also, businesses do not store wealth...they pass on their profits to shareholders sometimes companies have to make stupid long term decisions so to ensure that they create wealth for shareholders...

Anonymous said...

U are all freaken nuts here!

Bullfrog said...

tao: so you agree that healthy businesses, "only serve to improve the lot of the very highest income levels"?

Of course for businesses to flourish they need customers; I work for a software start-up, so I am very aware of the importance of paying customers. What is also true is that businesses need employees. So a healthy business can hire more employees, or have the ability to pay them a competitive wage/bonuses. That employee then uses the money to purchase goods and services.

The alternative is, you tax businesses at a higher rate because, after all, they ARE making more so they need to pony up, right? Then, those businesses can either eat the higher tax at the cost of their profit, or start taking away the perks and cutting back on workforce. Unemployed people can't be consumers.

Besides that, what happens to the money you took away? Bloated, corrupt social programs? Count me out.

Bullfrog said...

duh?: Thats what keeps me coming back; the discussion is LIVELY. Stick around if you have the stomach for it, you might learn something.

Patrick M said...

Stones: I tried to explain or be reasonable, ask a question. I can see I was wasting my time.

You are a sad, sad child. I don't really see how you can get women, as they prefer men with actual testicles. Your lack thereof, means you'll probably have to resort to fucking yourself.

So come back when you feel like talking, otherwise go cultivate hand jobs from monkeys on your blog or whatever you do there. I'd go there just to see the money shot, but then I'd have to shove a 2-liter in my ass and have my brain removed to relate.

So try pissing in your computer. I'm sure it will improve your blog.

Snarkle: Let me address point one.

First of all, conservatism and the GOP have been diverging for a decade now. So it is very possible for the GOP to crash and burn and it not repudiate conservatism.

Government has doubled under Bush and the GOP and with the Democrat takeover, it showed no sign of stopping. McCain was very much a part of that to the socialist Dastardly, Bastardly Bailout. So with the most lackluster candidate the Republicans could manage, conservatives were ready to walk until Sarah Palin was added to the ticket. Of course that pissed off everybody McCain had already cultivated, and it netted him only a tiny margin.

In that, someone came along who was promising change and hope, and was not the increasingly unpopular Republican party.

Come 2012, if the GOP gets back to conservatism, then we'll see what happens. I predict it will triumph.

As for talk radio, I can say you're half right. Especially since they agree with ME!! and not the other way around. :)

Otherwise, Bullfrog's got it right.

Tao: Didn't I kind of give Stoned the same advice, then get blasted?

Arthur: We have our crazies, you have yours.

Although I did tell my sister to vote against Boehner (pronounced boner for humorous effect). And maybe the GOP will get a leader that doesn't lose seats. Twice.

TAO said...

Bullfrog,

If I was Obama I would actually not tax start up companies for the first five years...and I would set up the SBA to give automatic 150,000 loans interest free to anyone starting their own company. I would have done this rather than bail out wall street...and I would have pumped money into community and local banks rather than the big international banks.

Your perspective is based upon your skill sets and most Americans do not have the same marketable skill sets. When you are discussing policy you have to look at the picture as a whole...

I would cut captial gains to zero on all stocks held longer than five years and I would increase the captial gains on all stocks kept less than five years. I would also stop the practice of short selling.

If you are going to believe in supply side economics and brag that people who own companies create jobs then you want to reward investors not speculators...then you want to reward those who invest for the long term and not those who are just playing the market for personal gain...

I do not have any problem with supply side economics as long as the "supply" is represented by people like Warren Buffet...but when the majority of the "supply" is people like hedge funds and derirative specialists then thats not investing thats speculating.

Satyavati devi dasi said...

So Patrick, will the Right concede anything at all if in four years they find themselves better off, in a more prosperous, stable nation, enjoying better foreign relations and the increased respect of our global neighbours?

Will they continue to puke out this hatred, or will they be able to rise above and give the man his props?

You notice I use 'they' and not 'you', because I refuse to quite lump you in with the mass of ignorant Rightists that have sprung from the isolated cracks and corners of this election cycle.

I still want to know the answer, though.

Patrick M said...

Saty: There will always be people who hate, who will never give anyone credit for anything, and will defend their people incessantly. The Bush haters proved that, and will continue to do so down to the last second of the administration. And should I even go on about the incessant Sarah bashing that's still going on almost a week out from the election? So the answer is no.

However, I follow the philosophy of giving credit where credit is due (and blame likewise). My look back at the presidency of George Bush will make that apparent when I get around to writing it.

You'll notice in the next couple of weeks that I'm not wasting space on harping on every little nit I could pick concerning the President-elect. That's because he has yet to start the damage I suspect he will inflict. I'll wait until then to really let him have it, but it will be based on fact.

Beth said...

So, where are all the GOP people Obama is going to put in his administration? As promised by Toad I think.

Patrick M said...

Don't worry, ol' Barry'll get him some. Of course they'll all be like, say, John McCain.