A nation to be embarrased about...

[BladeRunner]

Wallow In Chaos, And Laugh

A pro-Bush outcome with one enormous bitter pill to swallow...
...and you without your vodka!

By Mark Morford, SF Gate Columnist

Oh dear God please not again. Oh dear God please don't let it be all convoluted and depressing and messy and stupid and please don't let it all embarrass us on an international level all over again even more than it already has and even more than it already is and even more than we've endured lo these past four debilitating and soul-crushing years. Hello? Please? Is it already too late?

Why yes, yes it is.

And lo and behold, it was apparently another completely tortuous and
entirely knotted presidential election, unfinished until the wee hours and
reeking of E-voting suspicion and exit-poll miscalculation and it all came
down to, what? Ohio? Are you serious? What a thing.

And now Kerry's conceded and the white flag has been raised and we are
headed toward the utterly appalling notion of another four years of Bush
and another Republican stranglehold of Congress and repeated GOP chants of
"More War in '04!" Which is, well, simply staggering. Mind-blowing. Odd.
Gut-wrenching. Colon-knotting. Eyeball-gouging. And so on.

You want to block it out. You want to rend your flesh and yank your hair
and say no way in hell and lean out your window and scream into the Void
and pray it will all be over soon, even though you know you're an atheist
Buddhist Taoist Rosicrucian Zen Orgasmican and you don't normally pray to
anything except maybe the gods of really exceptional sake and
skin-tingling sex and maybe a few luminous transcendental deities that
look remarkably like Jenna Jameson.

It simply boggles the mind: We've already had four years of some of the
most appalling and abusive foreign and domestic policy in American
history, some of the most well-documented atrocities ever wrought on the
American populace and it's all combined with the biggest and most
violently botched and grossly mismanaged war since Vietnam, and still much
of the nation still insists in living in a giant vat of utter blind faith,
still insists on believing the man in the White House couldn't possibly be
treating them like a dog treats a fire hydrant.

Inexplicable? Not really. People want to believe. They want to trust their
leaders, even against all screaming, neon-lit evidence and stack upon
stack of flagrant, impeachment-grade lie. They simply cannot allow that
Dubya might really be an utter boob and that they are being treated like
an abused, beaten housewife who keeps coming back for more, insisting her
drunk husband didn't mean it, that she probably had it coming, that the
cuts and bruises and blood and broken bones are all for her own good.

And this election, it might be all be very amusing, in a Mel Gibsony,
blood-drenched hamburger-of-Christ sorta way, were it not so sad and
dangerous. It might all be tolerable and cute, in a violence-engorged,
sexist, video-gamey sorta way, were it not so lopsided and wrong.

This election's outcome, this heartbreaking proof of a nation split more
deeply and decisively than ever, it simply reinforces the feeling among
much of the educated populace: It is a weirdly embarrassing time to be an
American. It is jarring and oddly shattering and makes you rethink what it
really means to be a part of this country. The answer: It doesn't mean
much at all. Not really. Not anymore.

This is the common wisdom on the progressive Left. Those first four toxic
Bush years? A fluke. A phantasm. A stolen election. A gaff, a mugging, a
crime. But this? An election this close makes you reconsider. Maybe, after all, we aren't nearly as far along as we think. Maybe we're not all that sophisticated or nuanced or respectable a nation as we sometimes dare to dream.

Maybe, in fact, we're regressing, back to the days of guns and sexism and
pre-emptive violence, of environmental abuse and no rights for women and
an sincere hatred of gays and foreigners and minorities. Sound familiar?
It should: It's the modern GOP platform.

Here's the thing: For tens of millions of us, it is simply unconscionable
that we could possibly be led for another four years by a small and
spoiled little man who has very little real idea what he's doing and even
less of how the hell he got there. It would be funny, in a Adam Sandler,
toilet-humored sort of way, were it not so poisonous and depressing. And
yet it looks like we're stuck with it, like a shard of glass buried deep
in the eye.

And the rest of the world? Well, it can only watch us and shake its
collective head and wonder just what the hell is wrong with us, why so
many millions of us would even consider re-electing the world's most inept
and war-hungry and insanely inarticulate man to four more years of
unchecked power, why our much-hyped much-coveted supposedly ultra-superior
democratic system is so very deeply blotchy and knotty and spoiled.

So then, to much of Europe, Asia, Canada, Mexico, Russia, the Middle East
-- to all those dozens of major world nations who want Bush out almost as
much as the educated people of America, to you we can only say: We are so
very, very sorry. We don't know how it happened, either. For tens of
millions of us, Bush is not our president and never will be. That's how
divisive. That's how dangerous. That's how very sad it has become.

The GOP steamroller appears to be just too powerful, just too well-oiled
and blood soaked and fear inducing to be stopped just yet. After all, the
Right has been working on this master plan and building their takeover
strategy for about forty years. It's gonna take those of us working for
change and progress and raw spiritual juice a little more than one or two
to dissolve it away like the cancer it so obviously is.

Apparently, there are lessons yet to be learned. Apparently we must hit
some sort of new low between now and 2008, attain some sort of seriously
vicious status in the world before we will snap out of it. You think?

This much is clear: We are not, with a grim Bush victory, headed for
buoyancy and friendship and sincere hope for something new and refreshing.
We are not, with another four years of what we just endured, headed toward
any sort of easing of bitter tension, a sense of levity, or sexual
openness, or true education, or gender respect, or a lightness of spirit
and of step.

Maybe the best we can hope for, at this ominous and slightly sickening
moment, is one hell of a lot more patience.

[socksey]

This article voices my feelings today to a tee.  I feel a deep sadness in my gut.  Sorry if I offend any of you Bushites, but you guys have got to be burying your heads in the sand.

socksey



Bumper sticker:  Everyone has a photographic memory...some just don't have any film.

[dorbel]

NOTICE OF REVOCATION OF INDEPENDENCE
To the citizens of the United States of America, In the  light of your failure to elect a worthwhile President of the USA and  thus to govern yourselves properly, we hereby give notice of the  revocation of your independence, effective today.

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume  monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths and other territories.  Except Utah, which she does not fancy.

Your new prime minister (The rt. hon. Tony Blair, MP for  the 97.85% of you who have until now been unaware that there is a world outside your borders) will appoint a minister for America without the  need for further elections.
 
Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A  questionnaire will be circulated next year to determine whether any of  you noticed. To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the  following rules are introduced with immediate effect:

1. You should look up "revocation" in the  Oxford English Dictionary. Then look up "aluminium". Check the  pronunciation guide. You will be amazed at just how wrongly you have  been pronouncing it. Generally, you should raise your vocabulary to  acceptable levels. Look up "vocabulary". Using the same twenty  seven words interspersed with filler noises such as "like" and  "you know" is an unacceptable and inefficient form of  communication. Look up "interspersed".

2. There is no such thing as "US English". We  will let Microsoft know on your behalf.

3. You should learn to distinguish the English and  Australian accents. It really isn't that hard.
4. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast  English actors as the good guys.
5. You should relearn your original national anthem,  "God Save The Queen", but only after fully carrying out task  1. We would not want you to get confused and give up half way  through.

6. You should stop playing American "football".  There is only one kind of football. What you refer to as American ="football" is not a very good game.The 2.15% of you who are aware that there is a world  outside your borders may have noticed that no one else plays  "American" football. You will no longer be allowed to play it, and should  instead play proper football.  Initially, it would be best if you  played with the girls. It is a difficult game. Those of you brave enough  will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which is similar to American  "football", but does not involve stopping for a  rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like  nancies). We are hoping to get together at least a US rugby sevens side by  2005.

7. You should declare war on Quebec and France, using  nuclear weapons if they give you any merde. The 98.85% of you who were not aware that there is a world outside your borders should count  yourselves lucky. The Russians have never been the bad guys.  "Merde" is French for "sh*t".

8. July 4th is no longer a public holiday. November 3rd  will be a new national holiday, but only in England. It will be called "Indecisive Day".

9. All American cars are hereby banned. They are crap and  it is for your own good. When we show you German cars, you will  understand what we mean.

10. Please tell us who killed JFK. It's been  driving us crazy. Thank you for your cooperation.

[diane]

I was going to replace number 7 to read as follows..

7. Baseball will henceforth be known by its proper name 'rounders' and will only be played by schoolgirls - as was originally intended.

[tryout]

Hi BladeRunner,

very good article.

Maybe you can divide the US in North and South states again until Hillary takes over...

[Zorba]

Great one, dorbel

[gotsha]

Yes, America and Mr. Bush have problems, but America and GWB will do our best to fix our problems.

Nuff said boys and girls...I served for over 12 years in both the US Army and US Air Force, AND I don't like to hear insults thrown at our great nation.  Please keep your politics to one of your liberal blogs, not on a backgammon site.  

[BearB]

Thank You Dorbel - needed a laugh like that.
Possibly you should add as an after thought that they also need to be able to laugh at themselves once in a while - sorry Gotsha.  

[Shades]

Yes, America and Mr. Bush have problems, but America and GWB will do our best to fix our problems.

Nuff said boys and girls...I served for over 12 years in both the US Army and US Air Force, AND I don't like to hear insults thrown at our great nation.  Please keep your politics to one of your liberal blogs, not on a backgammon site.

   touchy-touchy??      

[webrunner]

Yes, America and Mr. Bush have problems, but America and GWB will do our best to fix our problems.

Nuff said boys and girls...I served for over 12 years in both the US Army and US Air Force, AND I don't like to hear insults thrown at our great nation.  Please keep your politics to one of your liberal blogs, not on a backgammon site.

This is not a backgammon site, it is a forum for Fibs-users and almost any topic is allowed here.
And topics like these are to be expected, considering what i see oin the shouts most of the time

[gotsha]

Well Webrunner..I'd like to raise the BS flag...looking at the current "Latest Discussions" and "Recent Articles" on the web page, every topic is about backgammon, or someone we know from FIBS.  The one outlier is Vic's Bush photo, which can be discounted...because, well, it's from Vic.

Something tells me that if someone had something inflamatory to say about you or your country, it wouldn't last very long on the site.   Bottom line, the letter is funny, but with all the abuse thrown at Americans on FIBS, it's gotten old, and downright rude.  
 

[dorbel]

Look Gotsha, the original article is actually by an American writing in an American paper. He didn't like the way that the election went and he doesn't like the way that America is headed. It's opinion, probably an opinion shared by about 45% of Americans if the election is anything to go by, but just opinion. My letter, not my own original work by the way, is a joke. Are you really so insecure that an opinion and a joke have you yelling "This shouldn't be allowed"? Lighten up dude, criticism and jokes aimed at America and Americans don't imply anti-American feeling on the part of us non-Americans or un-American attitudes on the part of Americans.
I expect the columnist loves his country, but he doesn't have to love President Bush. I would have to go along with that. If you want your President to be respected, elect a man or woman who can earn that respect. If your President is reviled worldwide, in spite of all that the most PR skilled country in the world can do for him, you have to ask yourself why that is.
I love America and its people, left or right, black or white. I think that America, energetic, inventive, racially and culturally diverse, in possession of a large and beautiful and country, rich beyond the wildest dreams of any other nation on earth, so powerful that they have no significant enemies, is the hope of the world. You have it in your power to fix the future of the planet for hundreds of years to come. However, that hope is for the future and it doesn't lie within the scope or even the vision of the man that you just elected. This is opinion by the way. Agree or disagree, make your own points, but opinion shouldn't be expressed? Come on now.

[Shades]

Yes, America and Mr. Bush have problems, but America and GWB will do our best to fix our problems.

Nuff said boys and girls...I served for over 12 years in both the US Army and US Air Force, AND I don't like to hear insults thrown at our great nation.  Please keep your politics to one of your liberal blogs, not on a backgammon site.

if I read you correctly. Bush lovers are allowed to  throw insults and worse on about very nation , race or religion , and this every day the last months, is acceptable??....  :kill:  

[don]

What I see here are people who cannot define self government who are whining about the government they, themselves have empowered.  That goes for the US citizens.  The rest of the world wishes it had a government as enlightened as ours, and the power to do some good in the world other than killing off their own citizens.

I know many are thinking I'm a Bush supporter, but I'm not.  I'm simply saying we get what we deserve.

Does anyone have a constructive suggestion?  I have a few.

[webrunner]

Well Webrunner..I'd like to raise the BS flag...looking at the current "Latest Discussions" and "Recent Articles" on the web page, every topic is about backgammon, or someone we know from FIBS.  The one outlier is Vic's Bush photo, which can be discounted...because, well, it's from Vic.

Something tells me that if someone had something inflamatory to say about you or your country, it wouldn't last very long on the site.   Bottom line, the letter is funny, but with all the abuse thrown at Americans on FIBS, it's gotten old, and downright rude.

Please raise your flag, it suits the argument you are making.

You are dead wrong about me removing posts. :angry:
I get sick and tired of people telling me that i am some kind of censure filter and constantly removing posts on this forum.
I have NEVER removed a post on this board, unless it was sexually explicit or a double-post, or by request of a poster. This happened a total of 4 times!
In fact, i had lunatics even say terrible things about me personally and still i haven't removed stuff like this! (just read the posts of Triple_X for instance.
Another moderater removed a post once, and put iit back up again a few days later.
There is no real censorship here.

Besides, read the forum!

for instance: Are any of the polls about Backgammon??  No..
In fact: only 35% of the posts and topics are about Backgammon. Most of them are about people, the community, the future of fibs, fibs client software,  arguments, avatars, etc. etc. etc.
Personally i would like it of more backgammon stuff was posted . That is why i cteated a new site with a forum, that is only about backgammon.

[socksey]

Yes, America and Mr. Bush have problems, but America and GWB will do our best to fix our problems.

Gotsha, I hope you are right.  I also respect that you served in our armed forces, presumably with honor.

The thing that galls me to no end, is that third parties have no chance in this country.  There is only one choice..........Republicrats.  

I am a member of a third party.  I wasn't allowed to vote for my candidate of choice in my state.  He wasn't on the ballot, and I was even denied the ability to write in a vote.  

My candidate was taken to court in several states during the election in order to prevent he and his running mate being on the ballot.  He was also denied participation in the debates.  

As if those things weren't enough, I was forced to listen to how my candidate was  preventing another from winning because he is taking away votes from that  candidate.  What kind of fairness and constitutionality is this?

I am sick over this election.  Where is democracy?  Where is fairness?

I'm an American and I love my country.  If you love our country as much as I do, you would advocate the freedoms we supposedly hold dear, and help to allow my candidate (or any candidate) a fair race.

Oh, and one more thing.  don, who says,

What I see here are people who cannot define self government who are whining about the government they, themselves have empowered.

We no longer are self-governing, my dear.  Our country is controlled, in the final analysis, by corporate America.  Don't kid yourself.

socksey



"Our lives improve only when we take chances -- and the first and most difficult risk we can take is to be honest with ourselves." - Walter Anderson

[don]

Hey socks,

while your point

We no longer are self-governing, my dear. Our country is controlled, in the final analysis, by corporate America. Don't kid yourself.

is sort of true for practical purposes, it is patently wrong in the absolute sense.  The people have the power to govern effectively, just as they have the power to satiate themselves with bread and circuses.

[socksey]

I think you are bein naive, don.  Look again.  We are losing our freedoms right and left and we are becoming powerless to fight those who really control our government.

socksey (one of the fighters)



"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist." ââ,¬â€œ Dwight D. Eisenhower, in his Farewell Address to the nation, January 1961.  Note:  This applies to the corporate complex as well.
 

[Shades]

I agree with socksey.. I am not really concerned by how the US is directed.... but a family... ( Bush) who cashed 1.2 billions of dollars by the saudi royal family over the 3o last years ( and continuing doing business with them ) and the same (Bush) who allowed a boing 737 to full of saudis to fly off the US without any control while there was a full flight interdiction over all of the US ... and that same plane having 27 (or 37) of them with the name Bin Laden... well... I wonder in what way I would trust his equity to lead such a great country as the USA....    

[EddieVedd]

From the other side of the world where our pathetically scare mongered population duplicated the lunacy of Bush's re-election (PM Howard re-instated with an increased majority) ...........Thank )*&%*^%# it's over !!

A Ralph Nader quote, the person i believe Socksey to be speaking of, which Eddie Vedder (lead singer of Pearljam) wrote a song about called "Down".

"you can't be neutral on a moving train...."

God bless the world 'cause sure as merde Bush wont, no matter how pseudo Christian he claims to be !!

     

What a devestating, sad, gut wrenching, JOKE !!!

:eeeek: