Posted by Stitchy McYarnpants On November - 3 - 2004   ShareThis

Bush has gotten the popular vote by about 3.5 million and I don’t quite know what to make of it. What does this say about the country in which I live? That its citizens are satisfied with being lied to and manipulated? I guess if I ever decide to make the career switch to shyster, this is a good thing. And I have a handy-dandy color coded map of where to make my living. Actually, all I have to do is head away from the ocean. I guess I just don’t understand the idea of voting to reduce people’s freedoms. It makes me sad to think that a majority of people in this country think it’s ok to attack a country under false pretense, and that they use their interpretation of god to dictate what choices people have, who they can marry, and even what advances medical science can achieve.

I’m simply befuddled at the anti-intellectual sentiment that is over-running this nation. A lot of people seem to think Kerry is a pointy-headed elitist because he tends to be verbose and uses big words. He’s a “flip-flopper” (if I never hear that term again, it’ll be too soon) because he can see many sides to complex situations and is willing to adjust his approach to suit the needs of a changing situation. I bet he’s even willing to admit it when he makes a mistake, and then – get this – tries to fix it! I have a feeling that people want a guy like Ray Romano in office. A regular Joe, just like them. Personally, I want a guy who’s smarter than me in office. The thing is, Bush isn’t a regular Joe. He’s the privileged son of a politician who has breezed through life, handed opportunities at every turn. I truly think his folksy way of speaking, using “nu-cu-lar” instead of “nu-cle-ar”, and even fumbling on words is an affectation that he uses to prove what a “regular” guy he is. Frontline had a documentary that profiled Bush and Kerry throughout their political careers. Young GW doesn’t sound the same as old GW. He is not from Texas, he’s from Connecticut. And yet somehow he’s posturing like he’s an extra on the Dukes of Hazzard.

The only solace I can take is that a lot of people who voted for Bush this time around did it while holding their noses. Republicans were stuck between a rock and a hard place. If Democrats can come up with a candidate that people can be excited about from the get-go, then the country may very well experience some progress by the end of the decade and we can begin healing this disturbing division. I don’t forsee one inch of social progress in the next four years, and hopefully we can undo any regression that happens. Honestly, the sadistic, voyeuristic, reality TV-loving jerk in me is looking forward to watching the America Show over the next four years. Without having to worry about getting re-elected, what wacky hijinks will GW get mixed up in? Maybe a case of mistaken identity involving Iran? Perhaps a date with South Korea AND China on the same night? Maybe a Very Special Holiday Episode with Israel and Palestinians coming together when the power goes out during peace talks and they all get locked in a meat freezer? It could be that some of his coworkers have been keeping some Big Secrets thinking he’d be losing his job and now that he’s staying, their consciouses will start gnawing at them and they’ll blow the lid of this mother! Who knows, but at least my guys Jon Stewart, Al Franken, and Michael Moore will have something to talk about for the next little while.

And that is the last political jibber jabber you’ll find here, at least for a while. Until then, we can all agree that knitting is great and we will all vote Yes on Proposition 934: Were knitted fashions of the 70’s just plain goofy?

13 Responses

  1. Anonymous says:

    You said it, Stitchy. Amen and hallelujah.

    The thing about living in a democracy is that you always get the government you deserve. Apparently, we are a nation of assholes.

    Sigh…

  2. Anonymous says:

    I second that of Anonymous #1. AMEN to you Stitchy. My son was very depressed when I woke him this morning and broke the news. (he’s 7 and a big Kerry fan) He said “Bush smells like garbage and Kerry smells like perfume” Ya gotta love the logic of a 7 year old
    (beth – big geek)

  3. Elisa says:

    I’m thankful that I live in Massachusetts, anyway, but it is a *very* small consolation.

  4. Anna says:

    Thank you. The fact that there are people who think like you do make me feel a bit better about the world today.

    Anna

  5. Katy says:

    I’m glad I live in MA, too…it’s so weird to look at those red and blue maps of the country, it looks like NE is about to secede. (hmmm….)

    And I vote yes on your goofy 70’s patterns proposition. Check out my blog to see the golf socks that I found, they go with some of the ensembles you’ve posted.
    http://www.knitterpated.blogspot.com

    And blogger must be very busy w/ all the election blogging today, I had a very hard time posting a comment. I will show up in your stats as visiting your site about 20 times today! lol

  6. Marnie says:

    All I can say is:
    McYarnpants/Obama ’08
    ~marnie

  7. Elabeth says:

    Hillary in 2008…it’s way more likely now.

  8. Anonymous says:

    [thunderous applause]
    All those red states will now be the targets of the next wave of Nigerian scams…. It is frightening that there are *that* many clueless wonders among us.

    Hillary in ’08? Yes, Please! Can I vote now?!?!?!

  9. Pet says:

    Amen Sista! I haven’t been able to verbalize my feelings, but similar things have run through my head. My husband and I keep questioning ourselves and how we got to be so out of touch with the country we live in. We think we are just like everyone else, but we’re obviously not. I’m sorry, I don’t want to be in the “Moral Majority” Club, they aren’t very nice.

  10. Anonymous says:

    I can’t agree with you more, and as someone (I’m ashamed to say) from Ohio the shock was and still is unreal. I put in countless hours canvassing neighborhoods, protesting Bush/Cheney visits to the area, and making “calls for Kerry” and I had no doubt that Kerry would take Ohio – I even have a number of Republican co-workers who were sure Kerry would win Ohio. So when I woke up on the 3rd, I felt like I was in a different universe. I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but I can say from stories of friends and from what I witnessed myself, I think a whole slew of votes here weren’t counted. When the last person votes 5 and a half hours after the polls close and when there are countless precincts who counted more votes then they had registered voters something is terribly wrong. I am extremely sad for this country as it is not even close to what I hoped it was. To those of you in the sane east: when you secede, please let us progressive mid-westerners know – we will join you! :) In the mean time I think I will hole up in my house and knit furiously as I watch our democracy and freedoms crumble around us.

  11. Knittykim says:

    ahh…I never thought I would become wistful about a presidents ability to speak in complete and intelligent sentences (aka Reagan, Clinton, etc). so now my t-shirt that states “Kerry-bringing complete sentences back to the White House” really lacks impact.

  12. Anonymous says:

    I happen to disagree with most of the content of yours and the others comments. Unfortunately, in my mind, this year it was either voting for the lesser of two VIABLE evils, or taking a stand and voting for one of the two totally UNVIABLE evils.

    HOWEVER – I am conservative, tend to vote that way on most issues, or leaning toward Libertarianism… but you know what??

    It doesn’t matter in this forum – you still make me laugh. I still check every single day to see if you’ve posted again. We don’t have to agree on everything to have fun together, right? I’m getting worried about you – it’s been longer than usual since your last post. I’m feeling depression vibes coming out.

    Hope you are ok Stitchy. I miss reading your blog. (And I say all these things and I hold a genuine concern for you even though I am a conservative) :)

    KayTee

  13. Anonymous says:

    Hey Stitchy,
    It is not so much that people are for Bush, but that they are against what the Democrats have to offer. Some people can’t vote for a man who says there is more honor fighting under the UN flag than under the US. A man running for president should have some pride in his country. On the other hand. I hope we still have some clean air to breathe, and some lovely trees to look at. And a place for the sheep, and alpacas to play. :) More power to knitters! BAAAA!

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