Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Post-Mortem
Kerry conceded the election to Bush at 11 am, after realising that Ohio was increasingly out of reach. As I wait for his concession speech, I have to wonder what Bush's re-election with a mandate means, given what he did the past 4 years without a mandate. In some ways, Americans deserve what they get, but given the enormous power and influence of America, this election will affect people living just about everywhere on the planet from India to Iceland. So, America deserves what it gets, but does the rest of the world deserve 4 more years of Bush? Do those unfortunate civilians in Fallulajah deserve what is about to be unleashed on them in the next few weeks? I could go on and on, but I will instead reproduce some of the reactions I have seen on the web today.
This is from Dan Gillmor.
The Republicans have an even stronger congressional majority. They have shown how gladly ruthless they can be in using their power. Bush and his allies have never believed in compromise. They have even less incentive to govern from the middle now, even though the nation remains bitterly divided.There's no secret about what's coming. We don't have that excuse this time.
Here comes more fiscal recklessness -- as we widen the chasm between the ultra-wealthy and everyone else, cementing a plutocracy into our national fiber, we'll pay our national bills on the Treasury Bill credit card for the next few years. Many economists expect a Brazil-like financial crisis to hit the U.S. before the end of the decade. If we muddle our way though the near term, we'll still have left our kids with the bill. Here comes an expansion of the American empire abroad, a fueling of fear and loathing elsewhere on the globe. This is also unsustainable in the end. Empire breeds disrespect.
Our civil liberties will shrink drastically. This president and his top allies in Congress fully support just one amendment in the Bill of Rights, the Second Amendment's right to bear arms. Say goodbye to abortion rights in most states. Roe v. Wade will fall after this president pushes three or four Scalia and Thomas legal clones onto the Supreme Court. Say hello, meanwhile, to a much more intrusive blending of church and state. The environment? We'll be nostalgic for Ronald Reagan's time in office.This is not sour grapes. This is reality.
Over at Dan Drezner, a commenter offers some perspective on what it all means.
If people in Oklahoma knew how much their votes for Bush helped MY liberal pinko commie lifestyle in Princeton, NJ, they would never stop puking. My fiance and I will probably get more tax cuts next year. We have no children, so we don't need to worry about underfunded schools or if they will get drafted. We can actually afford to pay for this privatized health care system Bush seems to want, AND still save in our 401k's, AND still enjoy our smoked Brie and white Burgundy.
In the meanwhile, Drezner make the point that the real winner in this election is Thomas Frank. I agree. The book should be mandatory reading for those of us who cant figure this one out at all.
And finally, a commenter left this note at Larry Lessig's blog.
I’m going to spend time these next few days looking for the America in my heart. It may be a while before I see it anywhere else.
UPDATE On the bright side though, Bush will now have to be accountable for everything he's done. I am glad Kerry doesnt have to deal with the mess in Iraq or with terrible fiscal situation.
PS: I hope no downcast liberal starts to diss Kerry. For someone with 1/100th the political skills of a Bill Clinton, the no:1 liberal in the senate (and from massachussets at that) ran a superb campaign and came very close to unseating a self-described war president. He did the best he could, but clearly that wasnt enough. Thats just tough luck.
This is from Dan Gillmor.
The Republicans have an even stronger congressional majority. They have shown how gladly ruthless they can be in using their power. Bush and his allies have never believed in compromise. They have even less incentive to govern from the middle now, even though the nation remains bitterly divided.There's no secret about what's coming. We don't have that excuse this time.
Here comes more fiscal recklessness -- as we widen the chasm between the ultra-wealthy and everyone else, cementing a plutocracy into our national fiber, we'll pay our national bills on the Treasury Bill credit card for the next few years. Many economists expect a Brazil-like financial crisis to hit the U.S. before the end of the decade. If we muddle our way though the near term, we'll still have left our kids with the bill. Here comes an expansion of the American empire abroad, a fueling of fear and loathing elsewhere on the globe. This is also unsustainable in the end. Empire breeds disrespect.
Our civil liberties will shrink drastically. This president and his top allies in Congress fully support just one amendment in the Bill of Rights, the Second Amendment's right to bear arms. Say goodbye to abortion rights in most states. Roe v. Wade will fall after this president pushes three or four Scalia and Thomas legal clones onto the Supreme Court. Say hello, meanwhile, to a much more intrusive blending of church and state. The environment? We'll be nostalgic for Ronald Reagan's time in office.This is not sour grapes. This is reality.
Over at Dan Drezner, a commenter offers some perspective on what it all means.
If people in Oklahoma knew how much their votes for Bush helped MY liberal pinko commie lifestyle in Princeton, NJ, they would never stop puking. My fiance and I will probably get more tax cuts next year. We have no children, so we don't need to worry about underfunded schools or if they will get drafted. We can actually afford to pay for this privatized health care system Bush seems to want, AND still save in our 401k's, AND still enjoy our smoked Brie and white Burgundy.
In the meanwhile, Drezner make the point that the real winner in this election is Thomas Frank. I agree. The book should be mandatory reading for those of us who cant figure this one out at all.
And finally, a commenter left this note at Larry Lessig's blog.
I’m going to spend time these next few days looking for the America in my heart. It may be a while before I see it anywhere else.
UPDATE On the bright side though, Bush will now have to be accountable for everything he's done. I am glad Kerry doesnt have to deal with the mess in Iraq or with terrible fiscal situation.
PS: I hope no downcast liberal starts to diss Kerry. For someone with 1/100th the political skills of a Bill Clinton, the no:1 liberal in the senate (and from massachussets at that) ran a superb campaign and came very close to unseating a self-described war president. He did the best he could, but clearly that wasnt enough. Thats just tough luck.
