[Dialogue] Post Election

[Ann Shafer]

Jack, I certainly echo your feelings. Here in Texas where my vote didn't
matter, I and friends: went to New Mexico (not me, but my friends), sent
money to senate candidates like Inez Tennebaum in S. Carolina (she lost) so
if Kerry won he would have more democrats in the senate, and made phone
calls, last night until 45 minutes before polls closed, in Ohio.

What I do not believe: I heard commentators on TV last night say Bush would
have to become more moderate because of his close win. Ha! He had a close
win last time and look how moderate he was.

What I do believe:

1) There is a lot of consternation in the conservative wing of the
Republican party with the enormous deficit and there is consternation in the
non-fundamentalist Christian wing of the Republican party with stances like
no stem cell research. So I hope that between Bush's lack of smarts and the
Republican disunity, some internal combustion will take place.

2) I like having a president who is thoughtful and sees complexity in
issues. Can we say that?

3) The Democrats need to have realistic programs and show how they work.
They need to have realistic programs and platforms that speak to the
American people and to a global society. Barak Obama has too much hope
placed on him. We need many of him who speak honestly.

4) Kerry would have walked into an awful mess had he become president. Now
Bush has the mess and the responsibility.

Grace and peace,

Ann Stewart Shafer in Fredericksburg, Texas where it is finally cold, and
deer season is coming this weekend. I will feed the deer in my neighborhood
a lot so they don't cross the road and get killed. I know I am silly. I do
like venison, just not them as venison. :o)



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jack Gilles" <icabombay at hotmail.com>
To: <dialogue at wedgeblade.net>
Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2004 4:21 AM
Subject: [Dialogue] Post Election


> Dear Colleagues,
>
> I sit here in India while most of you are asleep and contemplate what I
just
> witnessed on the TV. The local paper had a huge banner headline just
saying
> "OH NO".   I am deeply sadened and profoundly worried as to the world's
> future of the next few years.  I wonder what the "divine economy" is in
this
> re-election of George Bush?  But what of the future of the United States?
> Surely there has got to be a collective depression and pain amongst those
> who felt so strongly about this election.  Where do we go from here?  Some
> will say this is just the beginning and begin to mobilize for the next
> elections two years from now.  But with the passing of the old generation
of
> southern Democrats I see nothing but Republicans in about 25 or more
States,
> and the same for the House.  We are, for at least a while, relegated to a
> second place for many years to come.  Perhaps I am being too pessimistic
and
> that there will be a swing back, but the Republican jugernaut on the
South,
> Midwest and much of the Rockies as well as the rural vote seems
impregnable.
>   Can an urban, secular, minority, higher educated liberal base ever
> dominate the USA election scene for the foreseeable future?  I think not.
>
> Now we are in for tremendous killing and suffering in Iraq.  We are
rapidly
> approaching a complete polarization with the US and a few others on one
side
> and all others on the other.  No one can dare speak up for the Palestinian
> cause because of the bind the Jewish vote has on both parties.
>
> As I said, maybe I'm too close to the event and despairing too much.  We
> need thoughtful dialogue on our future.  Maybe it does have to get darker
> before a breakthrough occurs.  Maybe it will require a mobilization
outside
> the country.  I don't know, but I'm willing to listen.
>
> Jack Gilles
>
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