bkdelong

Another election has passed and the Republicans are once again back in power. I can't tell you how many people see me as one of the persons to blame - I voted Green instead of Democratic and was yet another vote "taken away" from Gubernatorial Candidate Shannon O'Brien. Whatever. I would definitely not vote Republican but O'Brien is backed by Finneran (who voters overwhelmingly said their representatives should vote AGAINST becoming Speaker of the House again), an insider, and "changed" her views on things like gay marriage after she became the front runner. Add the nasty political "back-and-forthing" in TV ads and I just couldn't think about voting for her without getting sick to my stomach. To those of you who continue to say "A Vote for Stein is a Vote for Romney" - shove off. At least I can be satisfied I voted for a candidate I believed in rather than one who I didn't agree with but didn't get elected anyway.

I'd like to share this "rant" of sorts that predicts what to expect in the next 2 years now that Republicans seem to be in charge. A ghastly picture but, in my opinion, realistic. This was penned by former Chicago Tribune reporter turned technologist and friend Lew Koch:

The Coming Horror by Lew Koch

First, the country will get a real taste of today's right wing Republicanism -- especially the judiciary and the likelihood of war with Iraq. Second, it may be about goddam time Democrats stop trying Clinton's old "triangulation" ploy -- trying to play all the corners. Bush has done that to a "T" -- talk moderate, act radical. (Ah there, Harvey Pitt.) Ashcroft will have an entire free hand in helping pick federal judges, and women can look only "to the streets" to prevent themselves from having to go to the back alleys (for abortions.) For those of you who may be too young to remember sex before Roe v Wade (1973,) the consequences of unintended pregnancy were dire and if you think those who believe with Susan B. Anthony (1860) that abortion is "child-murder" aren't up early this morning planning the next two years of legislation, well you haven't met these folks. I have. And I can tell you, they believe as night follow day, that "Gott is mitt uns."

The economy will go deeper into the toilet as Bush will pull a Johnson -- wage a war at the same time as failing to pay for it. (Instead of the social programs Johnson wanted Bush will ram through his tax cuts for the top 1 percent. (Irag may be sufficiently concerned that G. Bush and Rummy can't wait to send the missiles and troops, that they'll do a shuffle off to Buffalo inspectors in, inspectors out -- what's a decade when you're planning genocide.

Of course, we'll find out about all this when THEY believe we're ready -- and not a second before. See "lapdog" in the dictionary as a synonym for White House press corps. (Watch for an end to any discussion of cutting prescription drug costs. The SEC will become completely toothless.)

As James Carville put it on CNN last night, the nation will get a clear taste of Republicanism , which as it turns out, I believe, under Bush, is both radical and reactionary -- radical in social issues and reactionary in economics. And part of me says -- fine. Let's get the full picture of Republicanism unleashed, and if that's what the nation wants, then two years from now they'll have to chance to ratify those changes.

I think the entire Democrat leadership should resign. Period. Leave it to some new, fresh thinkers. Ironically, Gary Hart for one falls in this category (although he's getting long in the tooth.) He had it nailed on terrorism -- long before 9/11 and after. Second, John Edwards of North Carolina comes to mind -- he's unapologetic when it comes to suing the ass off of corporate fat-cat miscreants.

As angry as I am with him, Ralph Nader may have had a point: there is really no difference between the Republicans and the Democrats -- except the Republicans are better at being Republicans.

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