I’m ready for this to be over. I’ve been talking about this election since Election Day 2004. Maybe even a little before that. (Post with Election Day Gift I compiled for Kevin is forthcoming)

In 2004 I was already expecting Bush to win, and when Missouri was called for him (There’s some useless trivia about whichever way Missouri goes predicts the outcome of the general election.) I stopped watching the results come in.

I’m still debating what I’ll do tomorrow. If I were in a swing state I’d definitely vote Obama, but I’m not. In 2004 I was happy to vote for Badnarick – it was a combination of thinking Kerry was a tool and actually liking Badnarick.

I feel like a hypocrite if I don’t vote Libertarian, but I’m not sure I want my vote to go to Bob Barr, even symbolically.

I’m surprised that I’m so nervous about this. In 2004 I really, really did not care who won. Now I’m totally anxious and the thought of seeing McCain win makes me sick.

 I also had someone giving me the “Democrats hate America, Republicans love this country, etc etc and that’s why I’m a Republican” spiel. Grrr…I promised myself I wouldn’t let myself get angry over politics!

It was about 2/3rd into Kerry’s concession speech that I lost it, a little. Oh, I looked it up. This made me teary eyed

But in an American election, there are no losers, because whether or not our candidates are successful, the next morning we all wake up as Americans.

I was watching it in the Government Dept lounge with Favorite Professor and a few others. She was like “Rachel, you didn’t even vote for him!”

This is true, but watching Kerry made me realize that despite my cynicism, despite saying over and over that there was no way Bush would lose there was a teeny tiny part of me that was holding out hope. I dont’ know how I would have felt about a Kerry victory because I have so little political attraction to the man, but I guess there was a piece of me that didn’t want to give in to four more years of this nonsense.

And then there was this:  And of course I get all teary again. This woman is the only writer who wrote something about September 11th that made me cry. Hell, that STILL makes me cry when I re-read it. Anyawy, for posterity’s sake, Sarah Bunting’s response to “What do we do now?” in regards to the results of Election 2004 is behind the cut.

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“These artificial divisions of time turn into benchmarks, ways to measure your life, as you can’t help but turn back and think about what you were doing four years ago today, and what’s changed since then, and what you’ve done in the interim.”

Four years ago I was 17 years old, a senior in high school. My sociology professor shook her head and said “Tonight, we better be prayin’ to the goddess,” because just like this year, it was so close. I followed Brent to vote at Heights Elementary School, being annoying.

Four years ago I was with The Ex, who bought me a talking Eeyore doll (it’s a donkey! for Democrats! ((because back then, I still thought I was a Democrat))) for an election night gift. We sat on the floor of my bedroom and watched the results come in, until he had to be home, and it still wasn’t decided.

Four years ago I was just sending in my applications to college, my first choice being an wacky school called “Hampshire” which would become my home for 10 months.

Tonight, I’m 21, about to graduate from college, and embark on the “real world.” For the first time in my life, I feel like I’m not tied down to anything.

I also got involved in NaNoWriMo, which may be the best thing that’s happened to me in a LONG time, because it’s forcing me to write, and just have fun with writing. It’s going to be angsty! Dramatic! 

I just spent tonight sprinting on stream of consciousness writing, talking to fellow NaNo-ers, and ranting to Brent about how I couldn’t stop smiling.

Tomorrow is the election day, for better or worse, I just want it to be OVER. No one could have predicted the messy recount that was 2000, but the lawyers, media pundits, and election officials are already in place should this election be as close as polls are claiming.

And I, senior government major, writer of an honors reserrch paper, earner of departmental honors say “Who. Cares.” I am burned out on the politcal.

The ONLY thing that tips me over to Kerry is the fact that Renquist has cancer, and several other “liberal” Supreme court justices are getting old. On one hand, I don’t want my Supreme Court being appointed by a pro-life, anti-stem cell research, lets ban gay marriage with a constitutional amendment man. On the other, I am forced to have a degree of faith in the system; the same court that handed Bush the presidency also issued the most fervent checks upon the Patriot Act.

I have to remember, that no matter what happens, my life will go on as usual. Just as it did in 2000 when I got ridiculsouly outraged; my outrage was justified based on what was going on but it certainly didn’t change anything.

So, I’ll be sitting downstairs with my housmates, half an eye on the television as the results come in, half an eye on my computer, as the words of my new novel race across the page. NaNo has given me with an enthusiasm I haven’t felt in a long time.

What I’m writing isn’t good. Much of it is dialogue taken from conversations I had in real life; when I put them into my story, I wonder if the reader will think “does anyone really talk like that?” and then I think “Yes. We did,” It’s part stream of consciousness, part fictionalized situation, all mixed up with a healthy dose of angst. I’m having so much fun with it.

In real life, I spend so much time and energy trying not to be emotional. The biggest insult to me would be to call me a drama queen or to claim I’m over emotional and thus, self pitying. But I mean, I am kind of a drama queen. I’m perfectly aware of my flaws. I’ve just learned to live with them; it’s who I am. I’m a smart girl. I make the right decisions, 99% of the time. The emotions that occasionally mar the reason are what I’m writing about. I’m writing for the drama queen in me. The part of me that’s watched too many episodes of Dawson’s Creek too many times. That part of me that hasn’t escaped in four years.

I’m better off than I was 4 years ago. I’ve gained weight so I’d no longer fit into my gray Mudd pants, but I walk with the confidence that the 17 year old girl who skipped after Brent, holding a “Lefty” donkey beanie baby from McDonalds, ever possessed. Just like at 17, I am facing a future that is uncertain. This time, however, I don’t have anyone to answer to, except myself. There’s no one to blame, except myself.

Because I’m going to be ok. I’m going to graduate. I’m going to do what I have to do to feed myself. I’ll probably work at Barnes and Noble until August, and then go teach English in Europe for a year. I’ve been beating myself up that B&N isn’t good enough because I have a college degree, but that’s not based on my assessment; that’s based on society’s assessment, and me constantly comparing myself to other people (yes, I have been reading Rouseesua’s Second Discourse lately, why do you ask???).

But it oculd be a million times worse. And I actually kind of look forward to getting back to B&N, some café crfew will still be there, and many of the booksellers will. I hate most customers, but in a twisted way, I love my job. I work my ass off, my mangers love me, and I distract myself while I’m there. It’s decent pay, and it’s full benefits. There’s nothing wrong with doing that for six months; it’s only my irrational ego that has jugedd it as such. In September, I’m going to go to Italy or the Czech Republic or Russia, to teach English to brats; I won’t get paid more then enough to live on, but it’s the greatest opportunity I could ask for

Then I”ll come back. Go to grad school. Spend my life in the world of ideas.

It’s not what I would have predicted four years ago. 

Yay, it’s almost over!

I’m spending today trolling around campus in my political gear, smiling sweetly at those who glare at my t-shirt.

Then Pi Sigma. Then Libertarian dinner.

Then, one eye on NaNo-ing, one eye on the election shenanigans.

The Presidential Election is so much less stressful when one candidate has no shot of winning. I wasted way too much time in 2000 being outraged. Because, in the end, it doesn’t matter.

How’s that for Zen-like?

The good news is that actually paying attention to the Democratic National Convention may have ended my strike on politics, so I can go back to school in September and be the good little over achieving government major and keep myself busy with OCD notes.

Additionally, it did its job: it made me more optimistic about Kerry, made me actually want to vote for Kerry, and made me think he could actually do some good.

 The bad news is that it did it’s job: it made me more optimistic about Kerry, made me actually want to vote for Kerry, and made me think he could actually do some good. Even if Kerry wins, he’ll have a Republican Congress. I am far too cynical to honestly believe the dream of things actually changing. And even if things did change, what effect does it have on my life as an individual? What effect does it have on my decisions? Very little, if any. Society is made of individuals making decisions. It isn’t shaped by the politicians in Washington. Thank God for that.

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“Dean annouces he will stop campaigning but leave his name on the ballot”

This means, that after the news stops covering Dean’s “BOLD” move, I will see less of him. And less of the woodchuck man is a good thing. I have real qualms with Dean, but it is more fun to be immature and judgemental about it

Marge: Homer it’s very easy to judge…
Homer: Hehe, fun too!
-yes, exactly.

Bah. I don’t like any of the Democrats very much. My burst of enthusiasm for non-Dean characters is ending. (Although I still say Anybody But Bush, Any Democrat but Dean ((but that also sounds cool!))).

Bill Clinton should come back and declare himself Caesar.

And I am only the SECOND biggest Clinton apologist. Kevin beats me, but then again, thats part of the reason he won Coolest Person of 03.

Oh it’s Valentine’s Day, isn’t it? I don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day; manufactured love is kind of a turn off. Instead Christina is going to get drunk and I’m going to make sure she doesn’t drunk dial anyone. And I’ll get some good champagne out of it.

Also, does anyone know if Sheryl Crow is “Lesbian Rock” and if she’s a lesbian? This was an object of debate for far longer than it needed to be on Wednesday night. I’m glad we’re all so fucking productive.

This was posted in my comments by the other girl who managed to escape IHHS (and Skidmore!) with some brains, and its so cool that it bears repeating. Her comments in bold

3) I really don’t think its a big deal that Kerry and Edwards voted for the war. Luckily, most Democratic voters don’t seem to think so either.”
-As to this…whatever…the way I see it at that point in time if you voted for the war, good for you, if you voted against the war, you were strung up in Senate. Newsflash Deany-boy…nearly EVERYONE voted FOR the war…old news. so old.

4) Dean did not invent the concept of civil unions. Dean was also not revolutionary in his support of civil unions. But he did not invent the concept. (Just like Al Gore didn’t invent the internet) ((yes but Al Gore did take the initiative to fund the project which started the internet in the 80s, if anyone cares))”
Furthermore contrary to many what many w ithin the GLBTQ community thinks, Dean really isn’t all that great for gay folks. If people actually took the time to go back and look at what Dean was debating back and forth about during the whole civil unions vs. gay marriage thing, I think they’d find that Dean is on par with Kerry. They’re both against gay marriage (and civil unions are NOT the same thing no matter how much the politicians, and some gay activists for that matter, try to dress it up with pretty rainbow ribbons) whereas Edwards actually stated that marriage is a state’s rights issue and while he didn’t come out in support of gay marriage, he also didn’t come out as condemning the recent MA decision either.

7) People who endorsed Dean really screwed up. First of all, it is really dumb to endorse a candidate that early (ie, the Al Gore endorsement…it made no sense to do a YEAR before the election). Now th ere are all these pledged delegates who are realizing “Uh, maybe this guy doesn’t have the support we thought he did”. A man supported by college liberals does not a presidential candidate make. (I wrote that sentence just so I could phrase it like that, because I am so cool)”

no duh AND I jus t want to state that I was attacked on several fronts by other people who fall into the same categories as I do as A) Democrats; B) liberal arts college grads; C) women and D) lesbians, when I said I didn’t support Dean because his policies were pretty shitty and I don’t trust a man who looks like a woodchuck when he’s trying to smile. And yeah, Sassy…you ARE cool

Gina is SO getting a place on the world leadership council. Look for the campaign around 2025

I’ll probably write something more detailed and articulate, but then again, I might decide to get a life.

1) John Edwards is growing on me. He has charisma, he’s a decent politician. He has a southern accent and can charm southern voters.

2) Can someone articulate for me why Kerry ‘sucks’, as my liberal friends keep saying? (Besides the fact that he voted for the war and looks like a tree)

3) I really don’t think its a big deal that Kerry and Edwards voted for the war. Luckily, most Democratic voters don’t seem to think so either.

4) Dean did not invent the concept of civil unions. Dean was also not revolutionary in his support of civil unions. But he did not invent the concept. (Just like Al Gore didn’t invent the internet, hehe) ((yes but Al Gore did take the initiative to fund the project which started the internet in the 80s, if anyone cares))

5) I like Clark better than Kerry in terms of the military men in this race. However, I think a lot of votes that could have gone to Edwards went to Clark. And I like Edwards better than Clark, so I want Clark to drop out

6)Dean even lost to Al Sharpton!

7) People who endorsed Dean really screwed up. First of all, it is really dumb to endorse a candidate that early (ie, the Al Gore endorsement…it made no sense to do a YEAR before the election). Now there are all these pledged delegates who are realizing “Uh, maybe this guy doesn’t have the support we thought he did”. A man supported by college liberals does not a presidential candidate make. (I wrote that sentence just so I could phrase it like that, because I am so cool)

8. Al Sharpton should be given his own TV show. Maybe he can take over the daily show and Jon Stewart can run for president

9) The Daily Show last night rocked, and I want to marry Jon Stewart

10)There should be an industry devoted to gambling on politics

Kerry won the NH primaries!

Had a relatively good conversation with someone about the primaries today regarding “Anybody but Bush, Any Democrat but Dean.” Oh sure, I’ll vote for Dean if he’s the nominee, but really people

What the liberals don’t seem to understand is that the centrist vote is desperately needed. The centrist/swing vote is one of the only sectors that matters in this election. Dems will vote for Dems, Republicans will vote for Republicans, especially in this election. The Dems desperatly, desperately need a candidate who can get the swing votes. These ‘swing votes’ aren’t people who are ‘afraid’ of liberals or Dean’s radicalism or whatever. They just aren’t that liberal.

It will be terrible if Bush wins. Those supreme court justices are getting old…It means a lot of things, but the thing I am personally most worried about (and yes, I know there are certainly more pressing issues, etc) is abortion. I am vehemently pro-choice and can’t stand the thought of that right taken away, blahblahblah pro-choice cakes. That’s another reason I support Kerry over Dean. He’s been far more outspoken regarding woman’s right to choose then Dean. Not that I think Dean would ever try to take away abortion rights, he just won’t do anything to a) protect them b) get rid of some of the ridiculous regulations.

.
I have a lot more to say, but I am too brain-numbed right now. GO 351 is going to kick my ass. I need to spend some quality time with my 10 lb Shakespeare tome. Looks like I’ve got a hot date for the weekend!

In other news, the third eye blind song is STILL in my head. I get songs in my head and they stay there forever.

New plan: Quit government major. Become evil doer and build weather machine to make Upstate NY less of a tundra. Whose with me?? If I’m an evil doer I need a following of conspirators who help me out and follow my orders!

I think I also need a life..

Anyway, the results of Iowa caucus we’re surprising at first, but then when you started to think about it, not that surprising at all.

Kerry won, and although he has no personality, he might be the most qualified of any of the Dems to be president. Plus he’s a Vietnam vet, so they can’t go after him for a military record. A lot of libs don’t like that he voted for the war, but he’s certainly a much better option then Bush. Anyone but Bush…Edwards was second, and although he’s a little too into God for me (he’s Southern) at least he has charisma. A Kerry/Edwards ticket could be pretty powerful against the Bush Dynasty.

Dean was a distance third, and I’m pleasantly surprised. Dean is just unelectable. In addition, I don’t like him. I don’t know why I don’t like him, but I don’t. I mentioned to Brent that it was irrational for me to dislike him for being ‘phony’ because all politicians are phony, but Dean’s brand of phoniness really bugs me! He’s also kind of scary with his anger. He made this really crazy concession speech about how ‘I have only begun to fight’ and he just looked like he was rabid.

Dean’s not really running on anything besides contradicting Bush with the whole Iraq situation. Which someone needs to say, obviously, but he’s made himself into a sound byte candidate. So we went to war, and you didn’t like it. So what.

Most of the candidates have realized that in the minds of voters, that’s in the past. Foreign policy is still a key issue, and they need to have a viable platform. Dean just spouts rhetoric on the subject. That’s certainly not saying that any of the other candidates have any less rhetorical, but at least they’re saying something other than “the war is bad. Bush is bad. I wouldn’t have gone to Iraq.” Because yes Dr. Dean, we already know that, now how about telling us what you are planning on doing?

Dean’s supporters keep saying that people are ‘afraid’ of nominating someone so far left. The thing is, Dean isn’t as far left as he’s pretending to be, if you actually look at his past record. He’s not any more ‘liberal’ in American political terms than Kerry or Edwards. He’s just good at using the right catchphrases right now. And while that’s attracted a certain type of voter, its simply not realistic, and he hasn’t really done anything but complain. Someone like Kerry, Edwards, and Clark CAN get the centrist vote, which, whether lefties like it or not, is going to essential in this election. It has nothing to do with fear, or control, or any of those things Dean keeps spouting. It IS about electability, because its about getting rid of George Bush, and if the Dems could show a united front instead of bitching and nitpicking at each other, then maybe that would be possible.

I still like Clark, but I think the other military guy (Kerry) will beat him out in NH. If Edwards does decently in NH its also going to be a huge boost to the campaign because a lot of the Super Tuesday primaries are in the South. This is actually an exciting primary for once, unlike 2000. Stupid Al Gore. Stupid, stupid Al Gore and the wasted nomination.

In other news, the state of the union is tonight, which is the ultimate in rhetoric. I always get angry about it. Stupid Bush. I really, really, really hope he loses in November.

I’m watching all the primary stuff, and hard as I try, I can’t seem to get into Dean. There’s just something…off…about him that keeps me from enthusiastically supporting him.

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So here, there was a meeting of Howard Dean supporters, and there was a false email sent out that Dean would actually be here.

Which he wasn’t, obviously. Why would Howard Dean come and speak here, in Davis auditorium tha tonly seats about 100 people?

Anyway, on the GWB front, it’s not so much him I hate, it’s the people who fall for his nonsense. This is six months from the fall of the regime in Iraq, and his bs declaration of “major combat over.”  What is of course infuriating is that the same people that jumped on Bill C for lying about a blow job have yet to jump on Bush of course)

If Bill C. had tried to go to war the was Bush did, he would have no domestic support, whereas people rally around Bush with “our president, right or wrong?”