Posted on 11/22/2008 6:26:37 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
--Dear Conservative,
Yes, I know, these are times that try conservatives' souls. The sunshine soldiers left long ago, and we survivors are left to sit on the ground and tell sad stories of the deaths of our favorite theories.
I get a lot of calls from patients like you, still in mourning after the presidential election. Here is Dr. Greenberg's Rx for the political blues: Remember that the political pendulum swings back as surely as it did forth, this time after a long period when conservative ideas--and candidates--were in the ascendant.
It's that old Hegelian three-step: thesis, antithesis, synthesis. In short, things change. And isn't it a relief to be out of power for a change? You can almost feel the decompression.
Yes, we're still to blame for the economic tumult, the wars and threats of wars, all the troubles in the world but soon enough the grand disillusion with the next administration will set in on the usual fringes of American public opinion. It's already begun with the criticism of the president-elect's first appointments or even possible appointments.
Only weeks ago, some of these critics were his most fervent fans. Conspiracists may change their target; they remain conspiracists. Let's just do what we can to make sure we're not embarking on another eight-year hatefest, shall we?
That sort of thing grows tiresome. And repetitive. Only the name of the of the president changes. "WASHINGTON--A Republican congressman from Georgia said Monday he fears that President-elect Obama will establish a Gestapo-like security force to impose a Marxist or fascist dictatorship "--Newsmax, Nov. 10, 2008.
Oh, please. The election results of 2008 are but the mirror image of those of 1994, which were going to change everything, too. All that's happened is that the pendulum has just swung an equal but opposite distance. Remember the surest observation to make at every turn in human affairs: This, too, will pass.
Patience is the best prescription. But if that doesn't work right away, try an aspirin and don't call me in the morning. We political medics have more serious afflictions to tend to, like the hubris sure to affect the victors. Happens every time.
When this sense of depression, too, passes--and it will--just remember to avoid its equal but opposite delusion: euphoria. It's even more hallucinatory.
In the meantime, consider a sip--only a sip, mind you, for medicinal purposes only--of single malt in the evenings. Never drink alone or for consolation. Good whiskey was made for celebrating with friends, not moping. Used for self-medication, it only prolongs the agony and makes a man eloquent only to himself.
A better suggestion: Pick up a volume of Epictetus: "Events themselves do not hurt or hinder us. It is how we respond to them that matters. We make ourselves miserable by fretting about things over which we have no control, while neglecting those things that we can control, like our reactions. Learn to distinguish between the two." That may be a loose translation, but you get the gist.
Another always relevant piece of counsel, author unknown: Win as though you were used to it and lose as if you liked it.
In short, let nothing you dismay.
And, no, I wouldn't turn to the Psalms just yet--not for any sorrow as ephemeral as the outcome of an election--except to marvel at their literary quality and their universal applicability when one needs a very present help in trouble. But be sure to use only the KJV brand. Accept no substitutes like the Revised Standard or some other generic version.
Save the Psalms for when you really need 'em--for some serious crisis. Believe me, one will come. It's the human condition.
Cheers,
Inky Wretch
“I get a lot of calls from patients like you, still in mourning after the presidential election.”
I got news for you. I started mourning after McCain got the nomination. This election ended right then.
Kondracke is an Idiot. Today on the Beltway Boys he said the Depression (yes, he said DEPRESSION) was Bush’s Depression.
When will Kondracke realize it is a Democrat Recession caused by the Democrat Congress and Obama’s plans for a socialist (or Communist, if he can swing it) government beginning in January.
A lot of the problems are with the nomination of McInsane. This fellow is used to bashing Republicans and appeasing Democrats. It's no wonder that he did not fight with the vigor that was needed. Plus, he looked like Methusalah's grandfather, as Don Feder wrote.
B. Hussein Obama could've been beaten easily by a Romney, but we had someone who wouldn't even fight him poliitcally and said he'd rather lose the election than run a dishonorable campaign.
He got his wish and the country is in deep trouble for it.
Beg to differ, chief. . .oh. .yes. .I believe we will be back. . .however. . .I think America will have been fundamentally changed by then. The pendulum swings back and forth in the past between two sides who BOTH loved this nation and the values it was based upon . . Now the pendulum is swinging between those that love the country and its values and those that HATE the country conceived by the Founders. . mix in with a HEAVY dose of criminal element and, well, the future is bleak, my friend. . .when America swings back our way. . .it may be unrecognizable.
Conservatives will be back in vogue as soon as Americans remember what liberals are.
Touche.
If you ask me, the people recommending pulling a John Galt have a better idea than those who say Conservatism will rise again (no offense).
The fact of the matter is, despite all evidence that shows the folly of their beliefs, there are always going to be people who believe they have a right to the fruits of someone else’s labor and that they are owed a living. And those people are the real problem, not Obama or the dems; they are merely the result of such beliefs. And from what I’m seeing, those people’s numbers are growing.
And we need to ask ourselves...do these people deserve a rescue from what they themselves want? Why should we help them, only for them to turn on us when things don’t work out the way they think they should? If you ask me, I say let them have what they want. If they prefer “safety” over freedom, let them have it, and let them suffer the consequences. We conservatives owe them nothing, and it’s about time we stopped banging our heads against a brick wall.
“a lot of calls from patients like you, still in mourning after the presidential election”-no I’d be mourning if an Actual Conservative got beat..
I’m afraid that due to the changing demographics, conservatism will never hold a dominant role in governing our nation again.
She did, at the bottom of the ticket.
Despite the love for Sarah (and I do like her, she isn’t as conservative as is commonly believed).
Who in possible contention for the presidency is?
Conservatism can beat liberalism, we just have to transmit our ideas better. We can’t just expect people to become conservatives merely because we know its better than liberalism.
We will come out stronger than before, and this time we will keep the moderates at bay.
wisely said , I agree with the need to adapt and improvise.
The war to win "hearts and minds" over to self reliance and discipline is very difficult when the enemy controls the media and the educational system, the two key elements of controlling the mindset of a population
The "change" that Obama promised to his mesmerized true believers does not simply represent the usual differences between Democrat policies and Republican policies, his "change" means an unprecedented radical expansion of authoritarian government power combined with a heavy-handed suppression of Constitutionally guaranteed rights that by comparison will make the Chavez regime in Venezuela look like the perfect model for a freedom loving Constitutional republic. Has any previous presidential nominee promised to establish a civilian security force as well armed, trained, and equipped as the military armed forces? I don't think so, but Obama has and his version sounds a lot like the Hitler Youth corps of 1930's era Nazi Germany.
If you thought that the Constitution was shredded and then tossed to the four winds by practically every SCOTUS of the 20th and 21st centuries, just wait until Obama appoints the next 3 or 4 Justices. Can you say Justice Ayers? Or Justice Feinstein? How about Chief Justice Schumer? Justice Hillary Clinton?
No, this new administration isn't just another routine changing of the guard as this author implies. IMHO it could quite possibly be the beginning of the end for the Great American Experiment, and for our ability to exercise our unalienable Constitutional rights.
And then add several million illegal immigrants, many criminals, and “dead votes” to the new total voter rolls for the leftists and they seriously can’t lose for the long-term.
Socialism will have taken 10 steps forward and if and when the conservatives get back in power, they will be luck to move things one step back.
After universal health care is installed, secrete ballot union votes abolished, talk radio (i.e the 1st Amendment) is outlawed, school choice and home schooling are banned, and the 2nd Amendment is killed (along with thousands of Americans who will resist Obamas SS troops confiscating their firearms) ..... conservatives would be lucky to reverse even 1/100 of the marxist changes.
Let's see, I think the pendulum may have swung back in Russia, but I seem to remember 35,00,000 to 100,000,000, who really knows, people died on that left side swing.
Do we really want that kind of swing here? Remember the Greens think humans are an infestation, and the Greens are just the old Commies with a new name.
I have to sadly agree. The Democrats who want unrestricted Hispanic immigration, and are now in a position to allow it, know full well that at least 60-70 % of those immigrants will vote Democrat when they're granted citizenship by a Democrat Congress and White House.
The congressional RINOs who now dominate the GOP are apparently too dumb to realize that, and to please their Chamber of Commerce and big corporation friends who love cheap immigrant labor they will join right in with the Democrats to allow virtually unrestricted immigration and easy citizenship for the immigrants.
We have probably seen the last conservative Republican president, his initials were R.R. in case you were not old enough to pay attention when he was in office.
“Now the pendulum is swinging between those that love the country and its values and those that HATE the country conceived by the Founders”
I beg to differ...I think that conservatives love this country...we’re just seen as hating the country because so many FAKE conservatives supported the Bush Administration for so many years. Just because HE wanted to trample the constitution and everything that this country stands for doesn’t mean that that’s what conservatives wanted. Lots of us still love this country and what it stands for.
Ron Paul. Chuck Baldwin. Alan Keys.
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