Kevin Marshall's America
You can go ahead and call it: I was defeated and jaded before the results came in.
It’s 11:15pm and as I wrap up the final preparations for this Saturday’s event to benefit Literacy NY of the Greater Capital Region – To Kill a Saturday – I’m tuned in to the live streaming coverage of the election results provided by the fine folks of the Times Union and specifically the Capitol Confidential blog.
God knows why, though.
Call me cynical, but every single one of you reading this who’s still celebrating a win or mourning a loss are fooling yourselves. Your side didn’t win, because you don’t have a side. You have a team, and the affiliation you have with them is every bit as imaginary as the involvement you have with the Giants or the Yankees. The only difference is that instead of buying a ticket or a jersey, you’re giving them a vote.
I am just so, so proud of you. (thanks to Leigh Cummings for the inspiration behind this)
I’m jaded. I could do what so many others are doing right now and cry and moan about how we should focus on the issues and vote as such. But why should we expect people to vote on principles and issues when politicians don’t either? Why should I care about your patronizing “I Voted” sticker? Who’s the real fool, the person who doesn’t “do their duty” by voting or the person who votes with the idea that the person they’re voting for is sincere in their promise to make things better?
On the national level, this country is going to get what it deserves: mean-spirited selfish frauds stepping up so they can f*** the pooch and spin it as not being able to overcome overwhelming obstacles from the previous group. I feel no sympathy for the Democrats, because they failed on every level. They failed to convince people we need a public option for health care. And most of them – with a small handful of exceptions such as Kirsten Gillibrand – were and continue to be complete cowards when it comes to gay rights.
In Albany, the problem isn’t Democrat or Republican, it’s systematic. Politicians at the State level are a bunch of haircuts and blowhards, staffed by self-involved drama queens heavy on rhetoric and short on intelligence. It’s people talking about loyalty in a manner that betrays their understanding of the phrase.
The only exception I’ve known and continue to know is Jack McEneny. Last evening he scored a whopping 70% in his district. Hearing that news did, in all honesty and sincerity, tame my cynicism a bit and gave me at least some hope that good, honest men are still out there. He’s the only politician I’ve ever met that I’d trust with my back turned.
Then, as I was just getting ready for bed, I received picture mail on my phone from my brother down in New York:
And I said “ah, forget it. We’ll weather this storm too.”
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10 Responses to Breaking News: Haircuts, Blowhards Win Elections
Leave a Reply to major TUcensorship Cancel reply
STALK ME
Before going to bed, I checked the results….then I said to my wife, “I guess I wasted a half hour of my life, no one I voted for won.”…I am jaded too I guess.
and the rent is still too damn high….
that’s one moment of joy I did have, just looking down at the new paper ballot thingy(which gave me flashbacks to SAT tests) and seeing The Rent Is Too Damn High, made me smile.
Thy Vitis Labrusca be decidedly sour.
I’ve had affiliations with both parties over my life. I will say this though, the American government absolutely has a responsibility to defend its people. Whenever there’s a war, do we, as citizens get to say “you know, it was our leaders that really picked this fight. I don’t think we should get involved. It’s not our place to interfere with the workings of the American military.” NO. We have to register for the draft, and if needs be, put our own asses on the line to defend the American government. We had to pay taxes to bail out the corporations that preyed upon us like cattle. So to hear newly elected officials tell us that it isn’t their place to defend us against predatory business practices is a little bit insulting. Say what you will about the Democrats. They are cowards. They are wishy-washy. But they took solid steps to protect us against insurance companies and the very corporations that sent the nation spiraling into depression. They tried to protect us from threats within our borders as well as outside. Clearly, they didn’t try hard enough. But Rand Paul pretty much admitted to the nation that the Republicans aren’t going to try at all. Not when it comes to protecting 99% of this nation from the top 1% that owns everything. Our votes were the only protection, the only power we had against the top 1%; and on this election day, we blew it. Those are my thoughts and feelings, and I hope I am proven wrong.
Right on Kevin!!!! You have read my mind. It seems like it is all about getting power…very few politicians really care for who they are representing. I must be cynical too!
I feel a little better now that Monserrate & Espada aren’t reps anymore… but how Charles Rangel won with 80% of the vote in the middle of an Ethics investigation absolutely defies logic.
I pray for a day when the nation agrees enough is enough, and the voting polls come in at less than 10% of the nation. I would say 1% but I don’t think that could ever happen. Neither could 10% for that matter.
Can you still collect social security if you move to Canada? mmmm…
I hear what you’re saying Kevin. The political process and politics in general are very discouraging these days. Is it possible to turn things around somehow? I hate to be cynical too, but sometimes it’s difficult not to be.
That baby is soooooo cute! Great smile!
He’s got that big toothless “hollaaaaa” grin in just about every picture taken of him. It’s hilarious.