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4 MORE YEARS OF W!
INQUIRY BY MICHAEL McCUSKER
TIMBRINTON
Half of the American electorate have given George
Bush the opportunity (and perhaps permission) to disen
franchise the other half, which he has ardently set about
doing, claiming a “mandate” because this time he pomp
ously declares to have been elected President — which
gives the sense he was just as aware of his fraudulence as
President the first term as at least half of Americans were.
His current assertion of legitimacy disclaims the
very real possibility of just enough corruption at the polls
this past election (such as partisan voting machines) to
take him over the top in a very narrow squeak.
One theory of his triumph is that exposure of a bare
breast on TV during last year’s Super Bowl indirectly led to
the Republican victory — it created such a firestorm of
virtuous fervor the Bushies were able to exploit it into a
successful campaign fabricated around so-called “moral
values” — so one might say, given this spin, that a boob
elected a boob.
Disappointment that Bush stays in place four more
years has cut deeply into the psyche and souls of the
disaffected (as well as disenchanted) Blue-state half of
Americans who are truly singing the blues.
As an attempt to explore this angst, a few coastal
folk were asked two questions, which were in essence the
same question:
What do you think of the results of the 2004 election?
And what do you believe will be its consequences?
M ARYANNE M YERS
I have two reactions. The knee-jerk reaction is that I am
so embarrassed we have elected an imbecilic corporate toady
with imperialistic tendencies. That’s my knee-jerk reaction, but I
think it’s counterproductive and also divisive.
I think what distresses me most, my opinion about the
President aside, is that corporations rule the planet. By electing
whom we have elected we have given world corporate powers
the enhancement to proceed.
What I think that means is that decisions are made
according to the bottom-line and the perpetuation of business.
I think our ecology, our security and our privacy are at great risk
— and the New Age of violent revolution is the take down and
rebuilding of international corporate law.
I don’t want to make a meaningless rant and veer off;
but passions are very high.
J IM H A N S E N
I think it’s a tragedy of the first magnitude. I agree that
there is great evidence the election was stolen.
The priorities are all wrong. The problems are national
and individual debt, the health system, and education.This clown
is trying to destroy Social Security.
The whole ethic of the country is destroyed. We argue
about torture — my god, torture in my country?
One of the great problems I feel is that everyone goes
around with an egalitarian attitude and thinks every opinion is
equal. But they usually talk off the top of their head and their
opinion is generally the last one they heard.
(He reads a quote from H. L. Mencken: “As democracy
is perfected, the office of the President represents more and
more closely the inner soul of the people. On some great and
glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's
desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a down
right moron." Baltimore Sun, 1920)
W h a t s s c a rie r, th a t th e R e p u b lic a n s w o n th e e le c tio n
th ro u g h v o te r fraud, o r t lia t th e y w o n It fa ir a n d s q u a re ? ”
-B U R T ROSS (LAKE OSWEGO, OREGON)
CYNDYLEE
Emboldened by our President's inappropriate behavior
Christian evangelistas are now harassing female shoppers
inside our Fred Meyer's. This is a consequence of blurring the
boundaries between church and state.
The marauding teenage boys target only women. They
demand to know “What church do you attend?” They pronouno
“God loves you!” in a tone suggesting we need to be told for ou
own good.
Like so many self-righteous judgmental and often ignor
ant evangelista men, those boys single out women to intrude
upon and intimidate. They avoid approaching adult males and
lurk in the aisles.
Soon these gullible, crusading children will enlist in
Bush’s war. They will meet face-to-face the darkest side of
religious fundamentalism as infidels.
I know quite a few non-evangelista Christians. Not one
of them voted for Bush. Nor did they let it be know in church.
Silence is fear’s constant companion.
SUE SKINNER
bnuo
This “election" demonstrates that the system is rotten to
the core, and we all need to tell a new story, and start telling it
now. No more Republicrats!
VALERIE LINDHOUT
What’s all the fuss about? We got ourselves the best
possible government our superpower country could produce,
given the hallowed competitive prize-fight rules of our political
system: winner-take-all, anything you can get away with goes,
money-money-money talks loudest What are we bitching
about?
The Presidency of the United States is an ultimate
world-prize reality show and only individuals whose nature best
suits them for political prize-fighting can win.
Cooperation, honor, integrity are not included in our
rules, there is no provision for oversight of these qualities. The
needs of the people are not included, least of all the needs of
babies.
See the winners strutting their stuff. See them collect
the winnings, and collecting, and collecting. See the machinery
in motion, gearing for the next prize-fight. See the gladiators
maneuvering and prepping...
Thumbs up for our system. Thumbs up. Thumbs up.
P A T R IC IA L O N G N E C K E R
As long as the Republican Party with its current tenet
prevails with half the voting public, all of the public — voters or
not — will be subject to repression.
Unless strong opposition leadership appeals to and
informs the “red folks”, the Republicans win and will continue to
win.
I think Americans will continue to ignore and allow all of
this as long as they have church, sports and the WalMart glut a:
available diversions.
Thus we have entered the dawning of the nouveau dark
age. I say bring it on. Get it over with.
Remember the “Hoop of the Earth.” Let the circle swing
down. Let total repression, depression and lack of knowledge
take the helm for awhile. It’s time the fat cat covetous power-
mongers get a taste of what they dish out.
Michael Erickson reminds us that, for those who believe
the Bible clearly states that God has given humanity the power
of free will. God will never violate free will. That means we all
have the power to choose — life, death, stewardship, neglect,
good or bad. Politicians cannot dictate free will. It's against
God's edict.
Arthur Smith points out that if we spent the matching
funds of our military budget, which is comparable to all of
Europe and China's, we could solve all of our national problems.
As nonleadership citizens, the least we can do is send
fish to the Midwest and South. Fish is brainfood, so send fish.
We/they need all the help they/we can get.
KENNY DEMPS
When I was young, I always had pride in my country,
“Land of the free, home of the brave.” I felt this pride during my
years with the Navy, even during the period of my life when I
actively protested the Vietnam War. I guess I’ve always had that
pride.
But after the 2000 and 2004 elections, combined with
Bush s decision-making, I’m beginning to lose that pride.
My post-election stress level was very high. I had
problems with everything. I took a short but sweet month-long
road trip to hopefully relieve this stress.
As always after having refreshed from a road trip, I
returned to Astoria, “the Paris of Oregon.”
So I ve decided to be “cool." It’s only four years, right
always wins, live good be good, and have pride in your country,
Land o f the free, home o f the brave.
TRUTH IN LABELING
The.Lower Columbia Clinic
From the clothing label of a small American
company that sells their product in France —
this is the translation of the French part of the
label:
•
Wash with warm water.
Use mild soap.
Dry flat.
Do not use bleach
Do not dry in the dryer.
Do not iron.
We are sorry that our President is an idiot.
We did not vote for him.
I