And with the push of a touch-screen, my unblemished record of consistently voting against Alan Mollohan has ended. I had to really work to push the button for Byrd, but I managed to get it done with minimal internal discomfort. As for the voting itself, it was rather easy- no line, the voting machine was easy to use, and it provided a paper trail. I would prefer a paper ballot, but I guess a paper trail is better than nothing at all.
And so it is done. I hope I am not the only one to stick the knife into my party’s back, because they really have to go, although the Baseball Crank does make a good case:
Even here and now, on Election Day, you can still hear the grumbling of disaffected Republicans, conservatives, and libertarians who will tell you that our elected representatives in Washington, and their leaders, deserve to lose this election. Many of us have felt the same way at some point or another over the past two years.
***The question you have to ask yourself, or ask of anyone you know who still feels that way, isn’t what the politicians deserve. It’s what we deserve. Why should we and our posterity be punished for their mistakes with the kind of folly that a Speaker Pelosi and a Majority Leader Reid would visit upon us?
Any other year, I might agree. But the Republicans really are that bad, and if some higher taxes are the price I have to pay to clean out these sewer trout, so be it. Also on the front page of Red State is this piece by Ben, titled “In Your Heart, You Know They’re Nuts” :
Make no mistake: The Democrats will win in spite of their message, not because of it. They will win because they are not Republicans, not because they embody principled reform. A morally corrupt lifetime Congressman like Ben Cardin is not an agent of change; an empty suit like Bob Casey Jr is no champion of the little guy; and a politically crass Washington insider like Harold Ford Jr is no idealistic leader.
They will win because they have successfully convinced voters that they are not the other guys – except on issues like national security, where they’re just like the other guys, don’t you worry. And marriage – they love marriage. And abortion – in Pennsylvania and Colorado at least. And taxes – don’t worry, we’ll only raise them for OTHER people, not you.
***My sister, following an assault by a sign wielding Cindy Sheehan goon at a rally yesterday, said to me: “You know, if people saw that this is what the Democrats are today, this election wouldn’t be close.”
The title of that piece is, of course, a co-mingling of the Goldwater election slogan and it’s counterpart. After 6 years of faith-based legislating, it is not surprising that Red State wants you to go with your heart, as it is simply what the current GOP does- they feel, they believe, they have faith.
But they don’t think.
We currently have a party in power that has rubber-stamped an authoritarian and arrogant administration, has codified torture, has spent us into huge debt, has rejected science in favor of the religious fanatacism du jour, thinks that chanting “Stay thecourse” is an actual strategy/plan, cares more about a brain-dead woman and a blastocyst than the living, and thinks the greatest peril to western society is gay marriage (of course, only when they aren’t flashing pictures of Osama every election cycle). I could go on and on (and have in the past), but you get the point.
“The Democrats are Worse” may have been a successful rallying cry for GOP faithful in years past, but the problem is that the Democrats actually have to be worse in order for that message to resonate. The current GOP and their enablers have made that impossible.
*** Update ***
A humorous aside- I just check the mail and a postcard from Brian Louk, a Republican candidate for the House of Delegates, was in the mail- the front had a picture of him handling a baby and the caption “Standing up for our values.” On the back, Brian let me know he had been endorsed by the West Virginia Family Foundation and West Virginian’s for Life.
What weighty issues did Brian think matter most to the folks of West Virginia? Legal protection for ‘unborn children’ and the “Marriage Protection Act.”
I am feeling better and better about my vote.
Sojourner
Hell, if it causes gridlock and presents further legislation like that which “legalized” torture and the disappearing of people, the Constitution will be the major beneficiary of your votes.
Congrats, John.
SeesThroughIt
Bing bang boom
Zifnab
Hey, here’s a thought. Why don’t the Republicans run someone who isn’t a liar, a cheater, a child-molester, or a general thug for office? Why is that so hard?
I have to force down a gag when I hear this level of whining and bitchery.
Dave
I rather enjoyed this one from the front page.
I Concede Nothing: We’re Not Losing A Single Seat. Period.
As always, it’s the media’s fault. Not that they’ve completely screwed up the country. I love how he points out that the media has mislead the American people on the “reason we took out Saddam Hussein”. I mean seriously can you really be that out of touch? How do you live life with your eyes closed like that?
orogeny
Just curious, John … since Bush has been in office, how much of a cut in taxes have you personally seen? My family income is less than $200K, and I haven’t been able to see any significant decline in my taxes over the last 6 years compared to the Clinton years. Maybe a few hundred dollars, but nothing that makes me feel less burdened, particularly in light of the ballooning deficit
scarshapedstar
Are you fucking joking?
Zifnab
~FDL
Feel better knowing these are the guys you voted against, John.
Pb
Red State: all Dolchstoßlegende, all the time.
Or, as Clinton put it:
fwiffo
In the case of those candidates, I must agree with at least that much of Ben’s assessment. On the other hand, it isn’t possible to lump somebody like Jim Webb or Jon Tester in that group. The truly remarkable thing is that even the Democrats lousiest candidates are a distinct improvement over the status quo.
You really gotta love that moxie. Our liberal media at work.
chopper
if ben’s sister thinks that ‘sheehan sign wielding goons’ at a rally represent the democratic party as a whole, then stupidity really does run in the family.
or should i use the anti-abortion protestor what chucked a rock at my head as a representative of the GOP? man, if people really understood that that’s what the GOP is today, this election wouldn’t even be close.
ThymeZone
Congrats and kudos, John. Bravo for the last 18 months here.
I hope the Dems come through and justify your vote, I know it didn’t come easy.
And I’ll swear on a stack of Bibles that when the Dems have the country in a ditch, I’ll join you in voting their asses out someday.
Mr Furious
Good for you, John. That is all.
mds
or should i use the anti-abortion protestor what chucked a rock at my head as a representative of the GOP?
Yes.
Wait, was that rhetorical?
chopper
apparently, when you sign up for the GOP, along with your card in the mail they send a set of blinders.
ThymeZone
If I saw a Sheehan-sign-wielding goon, I’d assume it was a GOP trickster until I had evidence otherwise.
Mona
John, me too. I just voted a straight Dem ticket for the first time in my life. Previously, I voted for exactly one Dem once in my life, and that was for Wm “Golden Fleece Award” Proxmire when I lived in WI.
My reasons are the same as yours.
BTW, have you followed Michael Schiavo’s kewl campaign antics? Last week he sat in the front row during a debate between candidates in, I think it was AZ, and the Republican congresswoman who had spewed all kinds of BS about Terri and the supposedly evil Michael was so freaked out she made the timekeeper move — Michael was in her line of vision vis-a-vis the timekeeper, and she didn’t want to look at him. She tried to get him ejected but the cops wouldn’t do it.
He wrote it all up in his diary at Kos. He was a Republican before all this.
Zifnab
Fixed.
RSA
So Ben Stein has broken down his pitch into angry political baby talk for the base. I wonder who needs convincing that Democrats are not Republicans?
Tsulagi
Exactly.
Still, you have to laugh. With “The Democrats are Worse” as the only reason to vote keeping the present retards in office, they’re saying “We suck, we know we suck, we know you know we suck, but, just as we know the planet is only 6,000 years old, the Democrats are worse.” So sayeth the base.
I’m looking forward to tomorrow when Georgie’s secretary tells him “Speaker Pelosi is calling.” I would so love to see his expression.
scarshapedstar
I have no illusions that this thing will end quickly, cleanly, or favorably, but if we win this… my god. Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting to troll every single wingnut blog with “HOW ABOUT YOU GUYS START WINNING ELECTIONS FIRST LOLOL”? Five fucking years.
I don’t think I’ll ever stop.
Perry Como
You know, I was never a Clinton fan, but I have to say that man is impressive. I watched the Webb stump speech last night and it floored me.
DougJ
Mollohan’s a bitter pill to swallow. I voted for Hevesi, so I feel your pain.
Pb
Wow, good to hear it, Mona.
Yes, he noticed that not too long ago, and I linked to the Daily Kos story.
Thomas
A universe based on humor would have had John walk outside to see Cindy Sheehan with a Vote Dem sign.
John S.
Our universe is based on humor.
The only thing is, generally it is not humanity doing the laughing.
The Asshole Formerly Known as GOP4Me
Lieberman could prolly use a reminder. Unless his third party takes off on the national level, of course.
Baby Jane
This comment, based on humor, might be funny in another universe.
David
Every time I think of the “In your heart, you know he’s nuts” slogan, I have to chuckle. Thanks, Ben!
t. jasper parnell
There’s an election? Who knew.
ThymeZone
The Lieberman Party?
The party of preemptive wars with no plan for victory, suppression of free speech, and the clying bathos of faux religiosity?
I think it has a great future.
jcricket
Lieberman’s party taking off? I don’t think the GOP is going to do that well for the next few election cycles ;-)
Or are you referring to the Liebermans for Lieberman Party? I can only hope that Holy Joe will be too busy defending himself from a campaign finance scandal (you know, where’s that $400k in petty cash) to do that much damage to America.
Walker
In terms of actual income taxes, we have gotten nothing. In addition, their actions with the trust fund amount to a stealth tax. The reason social security is in danger is because they are taking so much money from the trust fund to cover their “tax cuts”. All in time to declare it unsolvent when I retire, making my contributions worthless.
To spend is to tax. Not a direct tax on us, but the bill has to be paid just the same. And before you go on about deficits incouraging growth, the GDP in this spending spree has grown less than the interest that has to be paid back, so it is a net loss. Factor all that in and the lifetime taxes incurred to me by this administration are far worse than anything the democrats have done.
When housing finally collapses, supply-side economics will finally be seen for the crap it is. And not a moment too soon.
John Cole
It has been negligible at my tax bracket.
The Asshole Formerly Known as GOP4Me
Well, after the GOP implodes, who else should conservatives vote for if not the Connecticut for Lieberman party?
Never underestimate the power of money, robocalls, and base appeals to the irrelevant scare issue du jour.
Good. Another bastard in jail.
Mona
Pb, I can’t believe I missed that Michael Schiavo post. I check here at least every other day. [shrug]
One of my other favorite bloggers, Jim Henley, posted today Punish the Wicked:
Baby Jane
Gak! Where’s your sense conceit and entitlement?
It’s The Connecticut For Lieberman Party.
Baby Jane
sense of
Steve
That was an annoying choice, wasn’t it? I voted Green for Comptroller, since I have an illusion that a significant protest vote might send a message. It’s a shame about Hevesi, since from everything I’ve heard he always ran his office very competently.
The Asshole Formerly Known as GOP4Me
Exactly.
Who do you think will run against Lieberman for the party’s nomination in 2008? New Hampshire should be a tough primary for them, it’s close to Connecticut and that’s Lieberman territory. But once the primaries head out to Oklahoma, Colorado, and New Mexico, the other candidates should have a good shot at winning some primaries.
Perry Como
Ugh. I voted for Menendez. I have to go take a shower now.
matt
I had the same experience, wonderful speech.
wilfred
I’m with J. Cole, not that I believe that the Democrats are any better. I just don’t give a shit. Conservatives have been dragged down so deep into the netherworld of the Christian fuckhead right that our only hope is to re-invent ourselves as libertarians. As much as I’m praying for a Democrat sweep today, conservatives have got to keep moving in the direction of a viable third party.
tBone
Kudos John, Mona, wilfred, OCSteve, and other sane Republicans. I hope there are a lot more like you out there.
I just hope you can live with yourselves when Cindy Sheehan is elected president in 2008.
The Other Steve
The amount of taxes I pay has not changed, if anything I’m paying more today than in 2000. That is influenced by several factors, mostly at the state level.
But the thing which has been signifigant for me. Through the 1990s my salary rose at a quite impressive annual rate. Since 2001, it has rose at a level below the inflation rate.
That’s what has hit my pocketbook the most. Not the taxes, but the lagging economy.
The Other Steve
The thing is, what people want in this country is fiscal conservatism, and social liberalism.
Why Democrats or Republicans never realize this, I don’t understand. Although the Democrats are clearly much closer to this ideal than the Republicans.
I think people are going to be surprised by this Democratic Congress, if the newcomers are allowed to be in charge. They’re the most moderate people I’ve seen running for Congress in years.
I’m working on two posts…(ok three)… one on what should be the Dem strategy moving the Congress for the next two years. two will be why the republicans lost…
and three will be why the Democrats are fucked, but I’m saving that one for if the Democrats don’t win a lot of seats. :-)
searp
I am most definintely NOT with John Cole. Compare the Clinton presidency with W’s turn at the helm.
MattM
Please tell me that was his typo and not yours…
Bombadil
In re: your vote —
Thank you, John.
Perry Como
Yeah right, moonbat. Jim Webb might as well be Cynthia McKinney in combat boots. And have you ever seen Tester and Pelosi together in the same room? I’m just sayin’…
Zifnab
In practice, perhaps. In punditry they’ll be “THE MOST RADICALLY LIBERAL CONGRESS IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND EVER AND FOREVER” as parroted by every ABC news correspondent, FOX “journalist”, right-wing radio host, and 2/3rds of the editorals in every American newspaper in the country.
If you think robocalling and voter suppresion is the limit of Republican political hackery, you’ve only begun to taste what the ’06 Dems are going to have to put up with.
The Asshole Formerly Known as GOP4Me
Yep. I can distinctly remember people calling Clinton a Marxist. These may or may not have been the same people who called him a serial rapist who had Vince Foster whacked.
Perry Como
I never understood the wingnut fascination with Groucho.
The Asshole Formerly Known as GOP4Me
Well, Bush is a Harpo, so…
VidaLoca
But wasn’t it you who called John Cole a Trotskyist?
The Asshole Formerly Known as GOP4Me
He is- he voted Democrat, didn’t he? [/Scrutator]
MNPundit
It’s convenient how one Dem protester becomes synonymous with the Democratic party while they ignore the guys who threw Mike Stark to the ground and put him in headlock for being rude.
hederman
voting for mollohan is an interesting protest vote against Republican corruption. Seems like splitting a ticket for byrd/anyone but Mollo would have been a better sign of outrage at corruption.
guess all politics is no longer local.
Punchy
You should be damn thankful it was a rock, and not a fetal spleen or liver. Althought those would surely hurt less, but who wants endoderm jammed in their earhole?
jcricket
No no no. Wearing combat boots is only bad when you’re a woman, because it means you are spreading TEH GAY to others.
Unless you’re saying Jim Webb is actually a ugly woman who is pretending to be a man. In which case your metaphor holds.
t. jasper parnell
John Cole’s vote is a help but, and I heard this on tv the other day from a very well respected source, the dead have risen from their grave and they’re voting Republican. Led by Zombie Flanders, no doubt.
Mike S
Are we sure those are Ben’s words.
jcricket
Stupid Zombie Flanders.
orogeny
That’s what I thought. I repeatedly hear people like you say that you are anti-Democrat because they’re going to increase your taxes as in:
In fact, for the vast majority of Americans, the Democrats have been far better for an economic standpoint than the Republicans. When Clinton was in office, I’d hear friends that I know made less than $40K per year bitching about the Clinton tax hikes. I just figured they were ignorant and were being lead by the nose by Rush Limbaugh.
I know that’s not true of you, so why do you keep repeating the “Democrats want to take all our hard-earned money” canard?
jcricket
Operations Enduring Occupation. I love it.
It was either that or Operation Enduring Operation.
Redleg
Tomorrow the real attacks on Pelosi and Reid will begin. The Rethugs are going to take out their anger and frustration on the Dems before the Dems even have a chance to take control. Fucking sore losers.
The Asshole Formerly Known as GOP4Me
We know which way Osama voted today. He files absentee ballot for Pelosi’s district. Ayman Al-Zawahri has a house in Nevada, and intends to vote for Reid next time around.
This is the greatest defeat America could’ve possibly endured in its Global War on Freedom. Every American worthy of the name should hang his head in shame.
Robert Fredson
You all laugh. Starting now, we are less safe. Al Qaeda is standing around in Baghdad now with an inkling that they may be turning the tide. President Bush, in what I think was one of his strongest speeches, illustrates this:
(President George W. Bush, Sep. 30, 2006)
Before you call me a troll or what have you, let me remind you that a good part of America–the good part, really–still loves and prays for this President, and still believes firmly in his values and direction.
Thank God for the Senate. A Democrat Senate would have trouble deciding which to do first: impeach the President, or surrender to the enemy.
Killy McNukerson
Don’t you worry your pretty head about it. Bush still has the nukes. If it comes down to it, we can take out Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, AND Pakistan in 45 minutes.
Nancy Pelosi can’t stop us from bringing freedom to the Middle East.
Unfortunately, DougJ, it looks like that’s coming too. At least until the CIA’s domestic death squad apparatus is up and running.
ben dover
i don’t know who you are, john, or even if that’s your real name (it could be a play on ‘juan cole’ of course), but the next catharsis for you will likely be “why” can’t you become a democrat? what is the alienation there? if you truly believe in reason then you need to join the party of reason. the republican party has racism and ignorance as its organizing core.