Why I'm inspired by the midterm election

[babylonsister]

Yes, this is a pep talk. Move along if you're not feeling too peppy. :hi:

http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2010/11/04/lamott_victories_of_2010/index.html

Why I'm inspired by the midterm election
Christine O'Donnell is gone, and Harry Reid isn't. Now, let's buckle up for the bumpy ride that faces us in 2012
By Anne Lamott


I am awash in the afterglow of the midterms.

Perhaps "afterglow" is not exactly right. Or "awash."

Maybe I mean "profound relief." Barbara Boxer and Jerry Brown, and Michael Bennet (amazingly) in Colorado, Patty Murray hanging on, and most of all, Harry Reid, HAR-RY, HAR-RY, HAR-RY. My man. Dawg! For me, holding the Senate and Harry Reid is almost up there with the Giants winning.

So maybe they have the Aqua Buddha, but we have two months to go with this House, this Senate, this president. People say that 10 days or two weeks is an eternity in politics, so two months is four or five eternities. Two months is eternity-plus-plus.

And that Obama is nothing if not brilliant. This guy has had some liberal victories legislatively, and when word of these victories -- the realities of healthcare, financial reform, student loan reform, etc. -- trickles out, we will have pride and stamina again. We will experience grace again, the grace of generosity to the underdog; the grace of second winds, and psychic WD-40. The grace of unseen water wings.

I say, buckle up, buckeroos and buckerinas. Fingers crossed and heads high. Once more into the breach. Also, figure out how you, in your area, can help mobilize the Latino vote. We owe Harry Reid to Hispanic outrage and get-out-the-vote efforts -- send someone money today. (I love Mi Familia Vota, but there are organizations in every state.) Or go somewhere nearby and register Latino voters, and the youth, who accidentally forgot to show up on Tuesday -- the "yout," to quote the great Joe Pesci in "My Cousin Vinnie." Help whip up the Youts for 2012. Lots to do! Kids to mentor, wars to protest, homeless people to help through the coming winter night. Time to rest and get ready.

So goodnight, moon. Goodnight, long national nightmare of the last two months, when it looked like we might lose John Dingell, and Barney Frank, and HAR-RY. Good night, Carl Paladino, with your cute red bat! Goodnight, Christine O'Donnell, with your election night list of demands -- fabulous! I don't know a living writer who could have thought that up, or the "I Am not a Witch" campaign. Maybe the late, great Terry Southern? But anyway, excellent -- and goodnight. Goodnight, Dino Rossi, but can we keep the name? And goodnight, icky Meg Whitman, thank you from the bottom of my heart for not being my new governor. Money and power and ego can't buy ya love, huh? Does that suck, or WHAT? And we all know what it's like to spend money unwisely -- who among us does not have some crazy purchase in our closet or drawer and garage right now? The stories I could tell -- the blisters, the eyeglass frames that look so adorable on Justin Timberlake. Oh well, good night, Meg; and thank you for your courage, Meg Whitman's housekeeper. And good night, Joe Sestak -- but DON'T go very far away. You're the real thing. Good night, Joe Miller, even with all those rascally votes still to count. But goodnight, and thank you for sharing.

Let's all go have some well-earned rest. A new day dawns.

[TreasonousBastard]

1. "Inspired" is stretching it a bit, but...

I'm a little disappointed, but certainly not distraught.

The eternal cycle of throwing the bums out, but when the new bums don't meet expectations throw them out and bring the old ones back strikes again.

This too shall pass.

[PRETZEL]

3. Not usually a fan of Mike Barnicle but he made an analogy

concerning the Congress and the state of the electorate that I thouhgt was fairly accurate.

He likened this to Free Agency in sports. You bring in someone who you believe will make your team better (i.e. Congress) and let them take their shot. If they don't deliver, you bring in someone else.

I think we're seeing this now more than ever. Within the Republican Party the rise of the Tea Baggers have made primaries more important and then in the general election, incumbants have had to do more to be re-elected than ever before. People are voting now more than ever on the "What can you do for me" feeling.

[lamp_shade]

2. Sixth (net) rec. I'm feeling pepped. Thanks.

[Clio the Leo]

4. Pepped up! Ready to go! nt

[gblady]

5. love Anne Lamott....

and I share many of her sentiments....
there is a lot about the elections to like...

[MissMarple]

6. I'm optimistic. But it's going to be a rough ride, so buckle up.

We have done well, we will continue to do so. The gop will get ugly, dirty and hit below the belt in a dark alley. They will lie, cheat and steal. But we will persevere. Right now, I would recommend we give no quarter excepting the refugees, of course. But we should be excruciatingly polite about it.