Let's Go Down To The Woods And Pray
I admit it: I fully expected this post-election blog entry to be nothing more than a photo of Sarah Palin and an Imeem-hosted clip of the Bronx's "Shitty Future."
The onslaught of robocalls, paid political ads and well-meaning volunteers constantly calling to remind me to vote and asking to volunteer has given me a democracy hangover. "Hi, this is Marcia Cross. I'm nibbling on Kate Walsh's earlobes, waiting for you to come over to see us--as soon as you get done voting." "Hey, this is Elisabeth Hasselbeck. I used to be human, but now I'm just a colony of redback spiders held captive in a huge sack of human skin. Bury me in a pet cemetery so I may reanimate again--after you vote." "Dear American: This is Karl Rove asking you to vote this Friday." I wonder how many people voted against their hearts and minds simply because they were sick of the process. It's as if not showing up at the polls to stay home and get plastered was the only protest a person had. (I'm a sellout: I just filled out any old circles on my ballot without looking, just so I could get an "I Voted" sticker that would procure me free coffee from Starbucks. By the way, an issue to put a hazardous waste dump across the street from my house passed by one vote. At least my dogs will look good with a little glow around them.)
Unlike the NeoCon resurgence that gave George W. Bush a legacy, it seems that more folks from the liberal side are doing that reach-across-the-aisle thing. (The conservatives like to use that phrase, too, but I think it's because the term "clothesline" is too literal.) Consider: When John McCain congratulated President-Elect Obama in his concession speech, the whole room went boo-crazy. When Obama acknowledged McCain his speech last night in Chicago's Grant Park, the crowd applauded respectfully. To McCain's credit, he told his supporters about the necessity in crossing the divide. John McCain reminded us in no uncertain terms why we've got to get over ourselves.
Last week, I overheard a conversation in a restaurant between two women. Not sure if it was mother-daughter, mentor-student or a MILF-teen hottie summit meeting. The hottie with the painted-on jeans and lip ring was going on about how McCain creeps her out and if McCain wins, "I'm going to do more charity work. Daycare, women's shelters, homeless stuff like that." The cougar stirred her tea and rolled her eyes. "That's all well and good. But if Obama wins, you think all the nation's problems are gonna vaporize as soon as he sharpens a pencil in the Oval Office? We all need to be better people."
And for a guy who works at a music mag, I need to be better at blogging about music. So go check out the new single from one of Cleveland's finest bands, This Moment In Black History. Their single, Raw Black Power, is available on iTunes, and from cool record stores in the classic seven-inch black plastic format. And if you're bummed about the election, cheer up over here.
The onslaught of robocalls, paid political ads and well-meaning volunteers constantly calling to remind me to vote and asking to volunteer has given me a democracy hangover. "Hi, this is Marcia Cross. I'm nibbling on Kate Walsh's earlobes, waiting for you to come over to see us--as soon as you get done voting." "Hey, this is Elisabeth Hasselbeck. I used to be human, but now I'm just a colony of redback spiders held captive in a huge sack of human skin. Bury me in a pet cemetery so I may reanimate again--after you vote." "Dear American: This is Karl Rove asking you to vote this Friday." I wonder how many people voted against their hearts and minds simply because they were sick of the process. It's as if not showing up at the polls to stay home and get plastered was the only protest a person had. (I'm a sellout: I just filled out any old circles on my ballot without looking, just so I could get an "I Voted" sticker that would procure me free coffee from Starbucks. By the way, an issue to put a hazardous waste dump across the street from my house passed by one vote. At least my dogs will look good with a little glow around them.)
Unlike the NeoCon resurgence that gave George W. Bush a legacy, it seems that more folks from the liberal side are doing that reach-across-the-aisle thing. (The conservatives like to use that phrase, too, but I think it's because the term "clothesline" is too literal.) Consider: When John McCain congratulated President-Elect Obama in his concession speech, the whole room went boo-crazy. When Obama acknowledged McCain his speech last night in Chicago's Grant Park, the crowd applauded respectfully. To McCain's credit, he told his supporters about the necessity in crossing the divide. John McCain reminded us in no uncertain terms why we've got to get over ourselves.
Last week, I overheard a conversation in a restaurant between two women. Not sure if it was mother-daughter, mentor-student or a MILF-teen hottie summit meeting. The hottie with the painted-on jeans and lip ring was going on about how McCain creeps her out and if McCain wins, "I'm going to do more charity work. Daycare, women's shelters, homeless stuff like that." The cougar stirred her tea and rolled her eyes. "That's all well and good. But if Obama wins, you think all the nation's problems are gonna vaporize as soon as he sharpens a pencil in the Oval Office? We all need to be better people."
And for a guy who works at a music mag, I need to be better at blogging about music. So go check out the new single from one of Cleveland's finest bands, This Moment In Black History. Their single, Raw Black Power, is available on iTunes, and from cool record stores in the classic seven-inch black plastic format. And if you're bummed about the election, cheer up over here.
3 Comments:
Thank you for writing that paragraph about the two women in the restaurant. I wish every american could read that.
I do think my party (republican's for those keeping score at home) need to step it the fuck up. McCain is a good man, and I think, oddly enough, he is going to be one of Obama's most trusted Republican allies. But truth be told for two years at least, Obama really doesn't have to cross the aisle. He has a majority in everything, House, Senate, and Media. The Media should be watchdogs, not to be afraid to say "hey so-and-so messed up" You know it's sad when SNL gives you more facts on the scumbags apart of this financial thing than the real news.
I must say I respect Obama, and I'm proud that a lot of "racist" people (as the idiot Murtha would say....seriously who re-elected this guy) voted for what they believed in. McCain would have been a great president, it's just Bush has made the republican party look like crazy church goers who hate all non white heterosexual, country music loving Christians. That is true for the fringe of the right wing, but I think most of us are more concerned economically, like McCain, and not about petty social bullshit. I hope that lip ring girl does do community service. The government can't solve all our problems, (unless we WANT to be a socialist society). I'm still going to pick up trash on the sidewalk when I see it, and donate blood, and help build trails and work with local charity's for the rest of my life, no matter what political scumbag is in office.
Also I will watch Obama closely, but I will not call him petty names, I will not make fun of his heritage or hometown, or current living area. I will not make fun of his family, I will not make fun of how he speaks. I will not criticize him for his clothes, his personal hobbies, or he personal opinions on what the best pop-punk band is of the week. Idiots have done that for 8 years and it's time to stop. (I could do that easy, but I won't, it just makes us more divided)
I will speak up when I think Congress and our national government makes mistakes, and willing to admit if my personal view is wrong. Obama has a lot to prove to a lot of people if he want's to be more than just a Grover Cleavland in our history books. A lot of talk has a lot of work to back it up, and if he can pull off what he promises, without ruining buisneses and raising taxes on the middle class, then he will have my vote in 2012. If not, then here's hoping my party isn't stupid and nominates someone other than Palin.
Thanks for typing all that out. I too liked the story about the two women. I worked the polls for the election. The 15 hours I was there flew by, and I can't really say I enjoyed it then, but looking back I know what I did was a great thing. I'll never forget it. I never did get that Starbucks coffee, but I did meet many Americans with a lot of passion. And in the end, that was enough.
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