James Wolcott on how to recover from the election

Stylistically, Wolcott’s the best blogger out there and way, way smarter than most. He’s worked out a good plan for saving your sanity after the election, no matter which way it goes.

[P]ractically everyone I know is a neurotic basket case over this election, ready to call their mothers to see if they can have their old womb back should Bush win. My plan is, If Bush wins, I’m going to allot myself 48 hours to mope and dread–okay, 72–okay, maybe 96–but 96 tops–but after that it’ll be time to get on mental war footing. If Kerry wins, do you think conservative Republicans are going to take to their beds for soul-searching? They have no souls to search, most of them. No, they’ll be scheming to ratfuck a Kerry presidency, and if history is a reliable guide they’ll have allies in the elite media who can’t wait to start snarking over Teresa as First Lady and the timidity of Kerry’s cabinet picks, whatever. Reporters and pundits who’ve paid scant attention to the casualties and carnage in Iraq will suddenly find their consciences tucked away in a file drawer, and start wondering when Kerry will show the strength and resolve we expect from our leaders. They will hound him about Bin Laden in ways they never did Bush.

….the war in Iraq has made moral cowards of us all. To focus on whether or not the Bin Laden tape would give Bush a boost while thousands upon thousands of Iraqis die and Fallujah is about to pulverized without the slightest debate in this country is an indictment of our media, our political class, and the phony Christianity that so many of our dumpling patriots profess.

But as Randi Rhodes said today on Air America, voters don’t show up early and stand in line for hours in the sun, as they’ve been doing in Florida, to support the status quo. So make way for tomorrow.

Right on all counts. Electing Kerry tomorrow is just the start of the battle; life will have a purpose after the election, and there will be more to blog about, not less. I just wish the election would end so we could stop the nail biting. I’m actually dreaming about the election, and that’s never a healthy sign.

The Discussion: 7 Comments

No kidding this election is on my mind constantly. I am awakening at night with visions of watching the Kerry/Edwards inaugural and the Bush Bunch packing their saddlebags, loading the wagons and riding off into the sunset.

November 1, 2004 @ 7:01 pm | Comment

Man, I hope so. I feel it, I smell the scent of victory. But there’s still time for dirty tricks at the polls, so I can’t let my guard down for an instant.

November 1, 2004 @ 7:02 pm | Comment

Richard, where I am now, it’s already the 2nd of November. I just wanted to say that you (and I know, the entire rest of the US) seem to be very emotionally involved in this election. I do hope you’re following Wolcott’s advice.
I think most of us in “the rest of the world” are aware that this election is very close and that if Bush is elected, many of our friends didn’t vote for him. I think we’re also aware that if Kerry is elected, the world won’t change overnight.
I know there are many important issues involved – you’ve made me aware of them – but in the end, it’s just politics with all its checks and balances and swinging pendulums.
Please keep your head up, keep smiling, and keep on your good work.
Some of us really appreciate your China blogging. Example, yesterday, my friend sent me a message from the US, “What’s the story with these riots?” and I responded with, “I have no idea, because I’m in China. Try Peking Duck.” Guess what? You had the article.
Anyway, take care.

November 1, 2004 @ 7:16 pm | Comment

I can’t believe I spelt my name wrong! Gah!

November 1, 2004 @ 7:17 pm | Comment

Hey if you guys wat a break, read this funny analysis of the election. Written by a fren of mine. Vote tommorow and have a nice day!

November 1, 2004 @ 7:21 pm | Comment

Fiona, I really appreciate it, and you are exactly right. Change won’t come overnight when Kerry wins, but American will breathe a huge sigh of relief!

November 1, 2004 @ 7:33 pm | Comment

Lin, that’s a gret post — everyone should check it out.

November 1, 2004 @ 7:34 pm | Comment

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.