An open letter to the disheartened

You know, I was depressed for most of the Post-Election Wednesday. Rehnquist's diagnosis grew more dire. Kerry conceded awfully early in the news cycle. France and Germany rolled over and hinted that they were ready to play ball with the newly-vindicated Dubya. Republican hacks and Freepers alike were sharing the "We Won" luv...

You know what saved me? America's Next Top Model. Insipid (yet strangely satisfying) reality television. Dubya is a simple-minded bastard being puppeted by some of the most despicable partisans in the history of our nation, but my sweetly zaftig SISTUH Tocarra made it through the fire one more time. Meanwhile, Tyra's hypnotic allure was a balm to sooth my Dubya-stained soul.

Sure we lost Senate seats, but Obama's right, they don't have 60 votes. We will lose some Supremes, but Dubya can't elevate Scalia or Thomas to Chief. And one of his replacements will have to be a concession to the Dems. Besides, if things continue as they have with the economy, Iraq, joblessness and education, we might be able to turn some things around in '06 and regain some leverage in the Senate.

Still, on Wednesday evening, as I flipped between ANTM and a harrowing episode of Smallville, my world seemed a little less bleak than it had only a few hours earlier. Funny commercials still brought a grin to my face. My kids were precocious as ever and life was moving on. I realized that as intellectually numbing Dubya's re-election is, the country will return to its natural rhythm.

Besides, Stacie J. returns to The Apprentice tonight.

I had a dream last night...

That Nevada's Clark county would close the 5,000 vote deficit and deliver Nevada to Kerry... That late New Mexico precints would give me a reason to smile... and that the final 2% of precints in Ohio's Cuyhahoga and Hamilton counties would represent a surge that would close Kerry's 150,000 vote gap.

This morning, tired and disheartened from the long night, I awoke to see all of those dreams dashed. Of course, Ohio's provisional ballots will be counted. Ohio's Secretary of State isn't the new Katherine Harris, he's the new Judge Ito. In O.J. Simpson's legendary trial, Ito was giddily happy to be thrust into an unexpeccted spotlight while evidence of bloodshed littered his courtroom. Relishing every opportunity for a sensational ruling, Ito quickly became emblematic of how the media transformed public servants into creatures consumed with TV-friendly hair cuts.

Ken Blackwell is cut from the same cloth. Extolling the virtues and merits of a system that will groan through an 11-day torture of anticipation, Blackwell blithely advised everyone to "take a deep breath" while the votes are tallied. We'll see how long it takes this Republican stooge to bend under the pressure of Rove & Co. To his credit, he seemed intent on defending Ohio's process. However, with Bush's huge popular vote margin, he'll be itching to get another "Mission Accomplished" banner hoisted ASAP.

Equally distressing are the Democratic losses in the Senate. Salazar and Obama are great pick-ups, but Alaska, North and South Carolina, Louisiana, South Dakota, Georgia... These are crushing losses. And don't even get me started on the two or three Supreme Court Justices this jackass will get to appoint.

Clinton was impeached in his 2nd term. Bush has a lot more to be accountable for, but the Congressional numbers will keep him nicely insulated. We'll probably lose Powell as a moderating voice and Rove will yield more power than any consigliere in American politics... EVER.

Not my best day as American citizen.

CNN.com Election 2004

5:45 PST

CNN.com Election 2004

Nader is SUCH a PRICK! Already he's siphoned more than 20,000 Florida votes. That's 38 times the number that decided the election last time. How can people vote for this jackass???? Miami-Dade and Broward show no results yet, so all is not lost, but I'm turning my attention to Ohio and Pennsylvania where Kerry is actually leading Bush.