An open response to Jeff Jarvis...
He's our President, too.Come on, say it: He's our President, too.
If you continue to treat him like the devil in a gray suit, you will only drive him to his fringe and drive his supporters toward their fringe and you will lose any hope of winning in four years. You will continue to divide America and give the other side license to do the same. So retract fangs and claws and empty the venom.
Treat him like your President and he might just act like it. Put country above party and we might even get somewhere. I don't mean that you should suddenly start agreeing with him -- 'stem cells bad!' -- but that in this political process we hold so dear, you can push for what matters to you: You can get your congressmen, as many as we have, to drive the tax cuts down a little lower and improve the environment a little more and maybe even do something to fix health insurance. Compromise. Negotiate. Wheedle. Flies. Honey. You know the story.
I'm disinclined to acquiesce to your request. Means "no."
Because, quite frankly, I'm in no mood to submit to rape by the majority.
At some point, you'll come to realize that the past four years wasn't another youthful indiscretion, that with the latest reinforcements recent trends will accelerate. You'll go along with them, for support, for fellowship, and in time come to realize that, while you are with them, they are not with you.
When you look back, you will see that things have gone much further than you think possible today, not merely isolated incidents of political vandalism, but a decay in the fundamental definition of what it means to be an American.
And amongst the wreckage, you will see us, desperately trying to patch holes, clean up the mess, and prevent further damage.
So hear my pledge: when that day comes, when you recognize your error and the obligations your complacency has placed upon you, when you step forward to shoulder your share of the burden, you will be welcomed, without recriminations, because there's going to be too much work and not enough time to indulge in "I told you so"s.
In the mean time, lie back, close your eyes, and think of England.
November 3, 2004 10:01 PM
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