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Liberal response to GOP victory: A public nervous breakdown
WorldNetDaily ^ | 11/11/02 | Michael Medved

Posted on 11/11/2002 6:00:51 AM PST by FreedomWarrior

Liberal response to GOP victory: A public nervous breakdown

Posted: November 11, 2002 1:00 a.m. Eastern

By Michael Medved

© 2002 WorldNetDaily.com

In the wake of the sweeping, startling GOP victories in last week's election, despairing Democrats confront a bitter existential dilemma: Is life worth living under a Republican regime?

Listening to the grim comments of prominent pundits and politicos, it's obvious that some of liberalism's leading lights feel sincerely uncertain about the answer to that question. Some of them may even be tempted to follow the example of one impassioned partisan in Wasilla, Alaska, who became so "despondent over Tuesday's election returns" (according to the Anchorage Daily News) that he climbed to the top of a 230,000-volt utility tower and allowed the dangerous current to course through his body – in the process interrupting electrical service to more than 30,000 homes and businesses. Suffering serious burns over most of his upper body, the unhappy idealist has been hospitalized in critical condition.

Meanwhile, more mainstream liberals express a similar sense of desperation. "The landscape this Nov. 6 is barren," wailed Matthew Rothschild in The Progressive. From the safe distance of his palatial estate in Revello, Italy, novelist Gore Vidal sniffed: "The same people own the media that own the White House that own the Congress that own the oil fields. They all work together to give a false view of the world to the American people."

Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women, sounded even more pessimistic in a mourning-after statement following the election: "With Trent Lott running the Senate and George W. Bush in charge of the White House and Supreme Court," she warned, "the health and welfare of America's and the world's women and families have never been in greater jeopardy."

Less hysterical observers might wonder if the "the world's women and families" actually faced "greater jeopardy" from Hitler or Stalin (or bin Laden, for that matter) than from Trent Lott and Bush, but such historical perspective could spoil Ms. Gandy's rousing, Churchillian declaration of resistance:

NOW and our hundreds of thousands of advocates will organize, organize, organize cities and towns and communities … We have taken some serious body blows, but nothing will stop us from organizing and rededicating ourselves to progress. We will do whatever it takes to protect women's lives in every city, town and district …

In other words: "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields, and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender."

In a similar vein, James Ridgway headlined his lament in The Village Voice: "VOTERS SET REPUBLICANS LOOSE ON THE WORLD." One can easily envision rampaging elephants, recklessly released from their cages, trampling the last vestiges of civilization and decency. At least syndicated columnist Matthew Miller focused on specific fears in his commentary, under the chilling headline: "IS THERE ANY LIMIT TO GOP TAX CUTS?"

Miller warned the already terrified public that the diabolical Bushies nursed vicious plans "to shrink spending toward 18 percent of GDP by 2011 (from 19 percent today), even while boosting defense and homeland security by historic amounts." In other words, conscientious liberals must brace themselves for the inevitable, unspeakable nightmare that government will insist that they pay less of their earnings in taxes.

To face down this assault on enlightened values, Rothschild, in The Progressive, insists that Democrats must forget the middle class and "start appealing to the poor people of color and the majority of Americans who didn't show up at the polls … The Democrats ought to be able to say: We'll give you a big raise, we'll give you free health care, we'll give your kids a free college education, we'll curb corporate power and take the money out of politics …" Of course, Mr. Rothschild never hints at who might pay for this "big raise" – not to mention the "free" college and health care – nor does he explain how to "take the money out of politics" without shutting down all advertising on candidates or public issues.

For E.J. Dionne Jr. of the Washington Post, the results on Nov. 5 represent "an electoral catastrophe, worse for Democrats than the 1994 Republican sweep. Then, at least, Democrats held the White House and could shape the political argument. Now they have no power centers, no obvious leader."

No power center or obvious leader? What about Hollywood, and what about Barbra Streisand? Her strident rhetoric rallied the troops at the biggest Democratic fundraiser of this electoral cycle, and she posted regular "truth alerts" on her website throughout the campaign season, warning against the depredations of those dastardly Republicans. Couldn't Streisand become the new spiritual and intellectual leader of the dispirited Dems? Perhaps she will assume that role when she emerges from her shell-shocked, self-imposed isolation following the Election Day disaster, and resumes the posting of her truth alerts.

Meanwhile, there is another obvious candidate for new Leader of the Opposition, replacing the now discredited Gephardt and Daschle. As Jay Leno commented on his show: "The final tally is now in and, after this election, the only Democrat who's still in office is Martin Sheen."

Ironically enough, the Wednesday night after the real election, the fictional election on NBC's "The West Wing" played itself out with far happier results for Democrats. President Josiah Bartlett (Mr. Sheen) swept to re-election over his right-wing Republican rival, Robert Ritchie of Florida (played by Ms. Streisand's off-screen husband, James Brolin).

In a sense, with liberal activists feeling hurt and rejected by this corrupt and fallen world, "The West Wing" offers the chance to escape to a soothing, reassuring alternate reality. One can imagine the wounded spirits, sitting in locked and darkened rooms with the shades drawn, trying to shut out all jarring messages from GOP-dominated America, allowing only the eerie blue glow from their TV screens, immersing themselves in a brighter, better fantasy world in which progressive good guys like President Bartlett always win landslides.

Special Offers:

"Hollywood vs. America" is here! Michael Medved provides provocative insights into the U.S. entertainment industry. Autographed copies now available in WorldNetDaily's online store!

Also, Medved brings American history alive. Twenty-four-tape set presents nation's story from the founders' perspective. Also available from WorldNetDaily's online store.

Michael Medved hosts a nationally syndicated daily radio show focusing on the intersection of politics and pop culture. He's the author of eight non-fiction books.


TOPICS: Editorial
KEYWORDS: crybabies; demonrats; getouttamywallet; hateamericacrowd; liberallosers
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1 posted on 11/11/2002 6:00:51 AM PST by FreedomWarrior
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To: FreedomWarrior; All
Question: How is one a "mainstream liberal"??? Sounds like two mutually exclusive terms to me...
2 posted on 11/11/2002 6:06:37 AM PST by el_texicano
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To: FreedomWarrior
In the wake of the sweeping, startling GOP victories in last week's election, despairing Democrats confront a bitter existential dilemma: Is life worth living under a Republican regime?

Dear Democrats,

For you, life is NOT worth living under a Republican regime. You have nothing left to live for, because all your Senate are belong to us, all your House are belong to us, and all your White House are belong to us.

The Kool-Aid dispensers and plastic cups are on the right of the stage; please avail yourselves of them as soon as possible. Drink deeply, please.

3 posted on 11/11/2002 6:09:30 AM PST by strela
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To: FreedomWarrior
Front page top of fold headline, Sunday Times-Argus, Montpelier, Vermont:

What, us worry?
Vermont voters are still up during down times

4 posted on 11/11/2002 6:14:20 AM PST by .30Carbine
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Comment #5 Removed by Moderator

To: strela
"All your 'ratsasses are belong to us!"
6 posted on 11/11/2002 6:16:10 AM PST by Ed_in_NJ
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To: FreedomWarrior
Is life worth living under a Republican regime?

No, it isn't. Go ahead and commit hari kari. We'll make sure you get a nice funeral where God on't be mentioned and you are buried in a government provided wooden box.

7 posted on 11/11/2002 6:16:55 AM PST by Blood of Tyrants
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To: FreedomWarrior
"...became so "despondent over Tuesday's election returns" (according to the Anchorage Daily News) that he climbed to the top of a 230,000-volt utility tower and allowed the dangerous current to course through his body – in the process interrupting electrical service to more than 30,000 homes and businesses."

Damned libs can't even exit gracefully without stirring up trouble. I know they are addicted to power but this carries the concept to a whole new level.

8 posted on 11/11/2002 6:17:02 AM PST by Movemout
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To: FreedomWarrior
Suffering serious burns over most of his upper body, the unhappy idealist has been hospitalized in critical condition.

Good. Could be better, but still good.

Natural Selection is our friend.

9 posted on 11/11/2002 6:18:40 AM PST by katana
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To: el_texicano
"IS THERE ANY LIMIT TO GOP TAX CUTS?"

I hope not.

10 posted on 11/11/2002 6:20:40 AM PST by Former Proud Canadian
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To: FreedomWarrior
wwwwhhhheeeeee!


11 posted on 11/11/2002 6:21:19 AM PST by paul in cape
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To: FreedomWarrior
...syndicated columnist Matthew Miller focused on specific fears in his commentary, under the chilling headline: "IS THERE ANY LIMIT TO GOP TAX CUTS?"

LOL!!

This is the best column I have read since the election... it reads like an Ann Coulter piece.
Great stuff.

12 posted on 11/11/2002 6:24:14 AM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: FreedomWarrior
Why don't the Socialists all go to Cuba, which is the ultimate realisation of their dreams, complete with Che Guevara posters. I will give real money if they would all leave America and Britain for there.

Regards, Ivan

13 posted on 11/11/2002 6:24:29 AM PST by MadIvan
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To: FreedomWarrior
When the liberals have ranted about Bush being a dumb-bunny, the not-so-subtle message was that his supporters are also very dumb hicks.

Well, as far as the liberals are concerned, we've just proven to them how dumb we can be, and how desperately we are in need of caretakers --- them!!

The liberals in fact are so arrogant, they think we want them to like us.

They haven't been paying attention. We've been discovering that wanting to be loved and liked can get us dead. Now, we're happy if the rest of the world is afraid of us. It's okay to make the Democrats afraid to stir our wrath, too.
14 posted on 11/11/2002 6:25:22 AM PST by WaterDragon
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To: TonyRo76
Does this mean Alec Baldwin, Barbra Strident, Woody Harrelson, Julia Roberts, etal. might finally leave the country like they promised???

Have you ever know a liberal to keep a promise?

15 posted on 11/11/2002 6:28:47 AM PST by Always Right
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To: strela

They say that both cancer and dementia can be described as 'progressive' at times.

16 posted on 11/11/2002 6:29:59 AM PST by Cultural Jihad
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To: strela
I'm trying to remember how this "All you ______ are belong to us" began. Can someone enlighten me?
17 posted on 11/11/2002 6:38:08 AM PST by Mercat
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To: FreedomWarrior
"The West Wing" offers the chance to escape to a soothing, reassuring alternate reality.

Perhaps the NOW and other liberal groups will follow the example of the NEA and endorse the positions taken by Sheen on the West Wing.

Since the reality of rejection is so hard to take, they will continue to play they are in control of their little utopia while telling the voters that they were wrong.

18 posted on 11/11/2002 6:38:56 AM PST by pfflier
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To: FreedomWarrior
Here's my reply to all the whining 'rats:

Mommy, Mommy, Boo Hoo, Boo Hoo

Mommy, mommy, we lost again,
no longer do we reign,
there was a time when,
we could fool them,
but, that "memorial" was the end,

Alec Baldwhine and friends promised to leave,
after Tuesday, they're ready to heave,
alas and alack, they're still here,
still crying in their beer

Everywhere the "bent one" went,
the voters replied and sent,
someone other than he backed,
gone are many leftist hacks,
is this the end of Terry Mac?

Mommy, mommy, we're so sad,
it was the worst day we have had,
Well, we're no done yet,
our plan has been set,
we're going to sue,
Mommy, mommy, boo hoo, boo hoo
19 posted on 11/11/2002 6:41:03 AM PST by poet
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To: FreedomWarrior
" Ironically enough, the Wednesday night after the real election, the fictional election on NBC's "The West Wing" played itself out with far happier results for Democrats. President Josiah Bartlett (Mr. Sheen) swept to re-election over his right-wing Republican rival, Robert Ritchie of Florida (played by Ms. Streisand's off-screen husband, James Brolin). "

That's hilarious! I can't watch even one minute of that show.

20 posted on 11/11/2002 6:58:40 AM PST by elfman2
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