In these last few days, I've done a lot of talking, and a lot more listening with my Democratic-minded friends. Everyone has an opinion about where we went wrong, what we must do now or whether Canada or France is the better place to take refuge. I've pretty much been at a loss for words, although I'd choose Paris over Montreal any day. The Democrats I know are so angry -- at Bush, at the American people, at the Democratic party ("This was the best guy we could get?"). And rightly so, perhaps. But, I just can't muster up a whole lot of anger. Instead, I'm just scared.
That's right. After four years of opposing President George W. Bush, I have finally succumbed to fear. I'm so afraid, I can't even be angry. Now, this could very well be because I'm a wimp. I was that kid who cried when I was scolded by my parents or a teacher. I've never been able to immediately stand up when confronted, which is probably why I've been walking around with tears in my eyes since Wednesday morning.
Obviously, my fear is different from that which the president and his neocon cohorts have tried to instill in all of us. I'm afraid that President Bush will take his re-election, or "mandate," as Dick Cheney called it, as an affirmation that everything is going A-OK. But, maybe that's giving him too much credit. Why would he care what we think now? He doesn't have another election to win, so why pay attention to the moderates? He's even got two more Republican seats in the House and four more seats in the Senate. So, most likely, all this talk of governing from the middle is pure hoo-hah.
Above all, I fear what will come of our civil liberties in the next four years. President Bush has also affirmed that he's our guy on the "moral issues," like abortion, gay marriage and stem cell research. Thursday's New York Times points out that, "Mr. Bush's victory was powered in no small part by a huge turnout among evangelical Christians, who may seek a bigger voice in critical White House decisions over the next four years -- in particular, Supreme Court nominations that are likely to occupy parts of Mr. Bush's second term." As if a man who already believed God chose him to lead the American people needs more evangelical support.
I can't remember who first said, "Where are we going? And why am I in this handbasket?" but his words sure ring true now.
I guess I'm angrier than I thought. I don't, however, feel that anger is the best way to go right now. Neither is fear, of course. We need to be positive, as hard as it may seem. And I'm trying. I've felt a somewhat futile sense of pride since the election. I am so proud of the work of all the John Kerry supporters here in Pennsylvania. We really came through. I'm also proud of the work of the Kerry campaign up in my home state of New Hampshire -- the only state that switched from red to blue from the 2000 election.
But, I'm still not sure what we Democrats should do now. We need to heal, we need to see what we can do in the future. In the weeks leading up to the election, I had a heavy feeling in my gut that Kerry would lose. I did my best to be positive, to continue to hope for and support the campaign. I became more optimistic, partly because of my own effort and partly because it was pretty easy to be positive in a city that supported Kerry 80 percent to 20 percent.
The day before Election Day, I thought about what I would say if Kerry lost. Then, I came across the words of our Democratic patriarch, Ted Kennedy. In a speech in the months following his own failed candidacy for president, Kennedy gave a rousing speech to the party that did not choose him: "For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dream will never die." I have been carrying those words with me on an index card since Wednesday morning. I can't say I quite believe him yet. But I will continue to carry the words with me until I do.
I have found one glimmer of hope: Word is, John Ashcroft is on his way out. I say we get him a handbasket of his own.
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