A Nation of Children
I respectfully disagree with my colleagues Dave and Dana regarding the proper response to Obama’s election. It is understandable from a political perspective, but reckless from a policy position, to declare the day after Obama’s election that we will fight him at every turn. His speech last night was a masterpiece and gives hope that he will lead this country in the right direction, instead of implementing his ill-thought campaign promises.
Today, I spent the better part of the school day engaging my students on the election results. The overwhelming majority of them come from very conservative Republican households, and I knew that they would be in a fit. I implored them not to turn their disappointment into anger, and systematically went through some of the ridiculous rumors they have been told about Obama, flatly declaring each of them to be falsehoods. I also tried to convey the profound historical event that Obama’s election represented, and what this says about our country.
I had added credibility on this issue, since I told them (for the first time, despite their months-long badgering) that I am a Republican who voted for McCain. In the afternoon, I made my class watch both John McCain’s concession speech and Barack Obama’s victory speech and we discussed it.
But I also told them about friends and acquaintances of mine, both Republican and Democrat, who frankly embarrassed themselves over the last sixteen years by slandering the President, simply because he was from a different political party than they.
Earlier today, Andre classlessly implored conservatives to “get over” Obama’s election, even though there was nothing to warrant such a snort. It should be noted that Andre was one of the foremost savage slanderers of George Bush. He used to despicably triumph bad news about Iraq – which is to say, bad news for America – and recently took to calling the President “Dear Leader,” comparing him to a murderous dictator. When the President implemented serious, necessary law enforcement reforms, whose sole goal was to protect American citizens from violence, Andre declared that these were really stealth moves designed to enslave political opponents and were the positions of a monarch. Andre then began alternating “Great Leader” with “King George.”
Bush’s law enforcement moves were correct, constitutional, and done for the best of motives. They have garnered enormous praise from the national security community and, oh yeah, have kept America safe. Andre’s shrill and dishonest attacks on Republicans over these policies remains a disgusting, gutter-dwelling moment, and despicably, one that has brought embarrassment upon Andre for years!
I am determined not to be the pathetic smear artist that some of my Republican friends were during the Clinton administration. I am also determined never to stoop to the sick, risible depths some of my Democratic friends have achieved the last eight years. And today, I sought to guide my students away from such a fate of their own.
If President Obama veers left (which he can do simply by pushing his campaign promises), then he should be fought. But if he truly tries to govern from the center, then that is a different story. Patriotism demands that he be given the chance.
Excellent post DFV. You are very right.
pg - your humble messenger
November 5, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Interesting post. I also had the same conversations with my high schoolers and I also added credibility when I told them I was a Republican that supported McCain. I spoke of the uselessness of the ‘zero sum game’ in which you hate and tear down those ideological foes you disagree with (I think I called them ‘haters’).
Of course, I think Mr. Veatch conveniently neglects the excesses of his own ideological youth when he routinely engaged in the ‘zero sum game’ and held Dems in contempt from time to time. He, like the parent of the teenager, can’t seem to imagine a time when he engaged in the nefarious behaviors that youth are wont to do.
E the Wise
November 5, 2008 at 9:09 pm
E makes very fair points. Indeed, it is in part because of my youthful exsesses that I feel an authority on the problem now.
DFV the Scribe
November 5, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Mr. Obama wanted the job, he can have it. He’ll be begging Jeremiah Wright for spiritual guidance because after his first transitional briefing at the White House, Barry will realize he has bitten off way, way, way more than he can chew.
After our nation begins teetering on the brink, there will be a new Conservative movement in America as people realize that this sweeping new Liberal/Socialist movement was a bad thing.
Pasadena Closet Conservative
November 5, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Thats an interesting point Pasadena but I hope that this is what you think could happen and not what you now want to happen.
Think about how the hard left openly rooted for American defeat in Iraq and then think about the potential shamefullness of your reply.
E the Wise
November 5, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Damien- Unlike Wes, I don’t mind when you call me out by name. It is true that I used to call President Bush “Dear Leader” on our old site… about three years ago. Dave pointed out how ridiculous I sounded, and I quit. In fact, if memory serves, I apologized because of my respect for the office.
I refered to him that way a grand total of one time on this site, in August. Of last year. Not a single time have I refered to him as “Grand Leader” or “King George” over here. And I never, even on the old site, called him “Shrub” or any other such names.
If you’re going to use me to make a point, please at least get your facts straight.
Andre the Defiant
November 5, 2008 at 10:15 pm
I’d have to say that attacking people by name (especially our fellow Conclubbers) is poor form and should be minimized as much as possible except when absolutely necessary. We should be attacking the message instead of the messenger. There has been far too much of the former going on lately and that is unfortunate.
Dave the Sage
November 6, 2008 at 1:09 am
Except when the issue is how the messenger forms his message. Like this Bull Shit…
Now if you do not agree with that Dave, the way I react to you, then I will be most happy to leave your blog. Just let me know. Otherwise quit doing it or quit whining when I call you on it. How about that?
There is a lot of pecksniffery going on around here that’s for sure.
Cheers
pg - your humble messenger
November 6, 2008 at 10:38 am
I thought about making the decision myself. Then I thought better about it and decided to leave you on the hook. So let me know.
pg - your humble messenger
November 6, 2008 at 10:57 am
The only problem PG, is that it isn’t “Dave’s blog,” It is “our” blog. Our, includes one PG.
Request to happily leave is denied
E the Wise
November 6, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Look, Andre, you defend on the particulars, but ignore the larger point. I remember when you giddily cheered because Bush’s approval rating had falling to 29%. You thought it wasn’t possible for it to go that low, and when it did, you celebrated.
Within days of the 2004 election, you suggested that the Bush campaign had engaged in election fraud in Ohio.
You declared for years that the policies of Bush and Cheney were designed to funnel money to Haliburton, or enrich their wealthy friends, or silence their political opponents. These are all charges of corruption, when no corruption whatsoever existed. Each of those charges was a lie and a slander against the President and the 50 million people who supported him.
DFV the Scribe
November 6, 2008 at 8:43 pm
I blog because it is fun and I enjoy it. It isn’t fun when I am constantly hounded and now frequently mocked by the Conclub ideological hall monitor who is far more interested in taking shots at me instead of posting or contributing to the blog.
So I’ll be the one to bail for a bit so that you can have your way and be free from such “pecksniffery”. I’ll see you in a few days, I’ll go do some other things instead.
Endless snarkiness is not a family value…
Dave the Sage
November 6, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Damien, I just have to say…
I love you, man.
Andre the Defiant
November 6, 2008 at 10:49 pm
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