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What does it all mean?
by jayarrigo
OK so Bush has it. Kerry conceded. Wow.
So where does this leave us politically? With all three branches of government leaning toward Conservatism and the Right.
The Republicans have taken more seats in both Houses of Congress. The defeat of Tom Daschle was a big hit for the morale of Democrats. Let's see how many environmental issues get raised over the next term.
With Rehnquist being terminal, a lot of people have been talking about a Scalia or even a Thomas Supreme Court. Even after that, President Bush (eech, that's the first time I've ever typed that) will most likely get to appoint a new Justice. Then think about the fact that O'Connor has been talking about retiring forever and that Stevens is old as dirt, and you start to think that Bush's "Dred Scott" test might overturn Roe v. Wade.
And now you've got another four years of Bush being a friend of big business - you can't with a straight face say he's not; another four years of what I think is fiscal misappropriation; another four years of Children being Left Behind, of Forests that aren't that Healthy and Skies that aren't all that Clear; another four years of social stagnancy and another four years of "aw, shucks" from the man running the free world.
I have finally been convinced that Bush isn't an idiot, though. He really is a very smart man. He figured out what the Heartland wants. They want a President who takes a lot of his cues from the Christian God, who may not be any smarter than they are and who is looking out for their safety.
Well, how 'bout this. I don't think Bush is very good at this whole war thing or the whole Homeland Security thing. I do think that the spin machine he has around him has convinced many people (people who much like Bush, aren't very curious) that everything is OK.
We aren't much safer than we were 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1 year ago. Our borders aren't secure. Our ports are Swiss cheese. Yes, our skies are much safer. But we still hear about crazy shit going on at airports like the cargo holds not being secure.
Living in NYC, I realize that my chances of getting gassed in the subway are just as good as any other day. But there is still a chance and that terrifies me. Not enough to stop what I'm doing but it still scares me.
We have forgotten the line "If X, then the terrorists win" because it turned into a bad SNL joke. But it still holds very important meanings to me and I haven't forgotten it. I still take it very seriously.
I think the fact that we are taking away civil liberties; that we are still torturing people in off-shore prison camps; that I have terror in my heart is that X. And that yes, the terrorists have won. And that Bush helped them do it.
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