"Running Man" embraces "Total Recall" (OR: how far we have fallen)

[NewYorkerfromMass]

The day began with my wife and I discussing Arnold's foray into government. That's right, GOVERNMENT NOT POLITICS- for we are tallking about public service here, and not just any position but chief executive for one of the largest government bodies in the world. And I have resigned myself to the fact that Arnold is going to win. This is, after all, the same country that elec... (well, ended up with) an idiot as its president. It is the same country where an ex-wrestler became governor of another large state. It is the same state where another Hollywood actor was elected governor. Style trumps substance.

So I reflect on this, and I look at the mirror of America, and I think I have seen us hit rock bottom, and I am then sadly proven wrong. America's self esteem, if collectively measured right now, would be almost non-existent on any scale. When we begin to elect such clearly unqualified leaders for such important positions, when we need to attack weak and unthreatening countries lead by "tin horn" dictators and despots to address our "security" concerns, when we alienate our allies for not joining us in these misadventures, I see that we have lost all respect for ourselves and our government. And I've yet to add that we have one state GOP legislature so averse to a real democratic process, that its opposition must physically abandon its seats to avoid coercion in an undemocratic process, or that OUR Supreme Court subverted the democratic process as the nation collectively sat by and watched.

There's an ugly America out there, and it's getting uglier every day. When Arnold is elected, it will be one more rung down the ladder in my book. American seems to think everything's a joke. Life's a movie. All the world's a stage. Well, those Americans are not in Baghdad right now, they're not experiencing life and death in equal measures. 110 Americans have died in Iraq since the "Mission Accomplished" photo-op. That is more than one a day. Where are the pictures of flag draped coffins arriving at Dover? Where are the interviews with the grieving families? I say: "Bring 'em on". Americans need to wake up. Life is not a movie.

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[jiacinto]

2. I would not be that negative

And I would hardly say that Arnold's victory is an inevitability. With that logic we mind as well give up now.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

10. Repeat: Style trumps substance

Bush had the famous name, John McCain didn't.

[kentuck]

3. I agree...

see this post:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=128&topic_id=14970&mesg_id=14970

[revree]

4. So eloquently put...

I've been sick to my stomach for the last several years, and it just keeps getting worse. But you know what, hearing folks like you talk about it, and knowing that we are not as alone as we think, that's what keeps me going. Plus, I have a two year old son, and I can't stop fighting for his future.

Thanks for putting my feelings into words. And remeber, WE woke up, so there is hope for many others.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

6. Our daughter turns 4 this month

she's definitely a motivator. :)

[madrchsod]

5. well now

california may well get what it wants...but more importantly let`s see what the bond market thinks of arnie`s ability to fix california`s long term debt problems.

[carolinayellowdog]

7. Truth is so much stranger than fiction nowadays

Bennett wrote about the "death of outrage" back when the Repugs were controlling the media 24/7 with a beyond-belief impeachment juggernaut. The Republicans were killing everyone's capacity for outrage. We went from a too-bizarre-to-believe impeachment to a totally implausible election theft featuring a hopelessly miscast villain. Now the largest state is about to be governed by someone so impossible that my head feels like it's going to explode just thinking about it. Life in America is not just a movie, it's a very bad, totally implausible, badly acted and nonsensical movie and we're all LOCKED IN THE THEATRE AND IT'S BURNING!!

[LizW]

8. Isn't it?

Just saw Schwarzenegger's press conference at the courthouse. The world has gone insane.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

9. yep. It's getting pretty hot in here

:mad: