Prognosticators Supreme

There's a saying that says that "time heals all wounds" but I would like to add to it so that it actually reads, "time heals all wounds unless you constantly pick at it and fail to let it heal." The reason I say this comes on the heals of Barack Obama's historical victory and the aftermath that has already started to follow. It started shortly on the heels of Senator McCain's concession speech in which he graciously and honestly (at least in my opinion) admitted defeat and pledged to work with the new Administration for the good of our country. This was the Country First attitude that I had been waiting to see. This was an echo of the John McCain I (and so many others) were ready to vote for back in 2000. He's not the John McCain of today but he could have been. But the damage the new John McCain and indeed the entire GOP party has reaped continues to grow.

What do I mean? Well if you read the comments on any web article regarding the victory by Barack Obama you will see lines and lines of endless drivel about how this election spells the doom of our nation. These 'educated' readers talk about how they have been robbed and how the election of Obama will lead to anarchy of Biblical proportions and how we are on a road to disaster. Um... excuse me... but where have we been going the last eight years. I will admit that I'm not a big fan of the current administration. However, over the course of the last few years, the situation which was tenuously good in the beginning has deteriorated and has continued to deteriorate because of the partisanship that has creeped into Washington. Remember after 9/11 when there was a statement made by President Bush along the lines of 'if you aren't with us then you're against us?' Seems like that line has come to include domestic politicians as well.

If you don't see things 'our' way then you are a traitor to this nation and a loser. I was younger when Bill Clinton was elected in 1992 and again in 1996 but both those times I remember some disappointment but not the type of resentment and utter hatred that seems to be seething in some corners. Sure maybe these pockets are limited to pathetic people who live in their parent's basements despite being over 40 years of age and have nothing better to do all day than read new articles and post scathing comments on how this country is going to Hell in a handbasket. If you are that disappointed and apathetic then by all means head north to Canada or down south to Mexico. Maybe you can start leading the charge for reverse migration. But it isn't just the denizens from the dark corners of the internet, it's also people who have worked for their candidate of choice and have come away with defeat.

I was watching the news and members of the Republican Party here in DC were making statements like, "Well the next four years are going to be a nightmare" or "This is a disaster and people will realize their mistakes". Maybe that is so and maybe things will go from bad to worse but do people honestly believe that by being so stubborn and obtuse in their acceptance of defeat that they will make things better? I think the Republican Party needs to understand that their methods and beliefs have to change with the times. We all (democrat, republican, independent, green, blue, red, white) need to work together for change. We need to work together to fix the problems. But we have become so divided by this us versus them mentality that until that attitude subsides, it's going to be difficult to accomplish anything. By trying to force a kid to eat strained peas they aren't going to enjoy eating it but if you try being not so forceful the results may be for the better.

I just hate the attitude that so many people have that Obama is going to be a bane for our country. I ask again then; what do you think of the last 8 years? Apparently some 9% of the population of this country still approve of the job President Bush has been doing. I would say he is also responsible for perpetuating the us-versus-them attitude since even with the economic crisis going on now he made statements to the press that if Congress doesn't approve his plan then they are out to ruin the country financially. Now he wasn't so explicit in his comments but the message was there. I had memories of his rhetoric leading up to the War in Iraq. And the feelings have finally permeated down to the common man (I have decided that I will never again use the phrase Average Joe). If you, the people who fear doom with the election of Barack Obama, feel so strongly about the future of our country then do what the democrats did after the 2004 Presidential elections and have your say in Congress, the real seat of power of the people. Get your message out there (not one of hate but one that works) and take back the real seat of power. Don't be childish and sulk.