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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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To: FreedomWarrior
"nothing will stop us from organizing and rededicating ourselves to progress"

"nothing will stop us from organizing and rededicating ourselves to progress the continued slaughter of innocent infants by the millions."

41 posted on 11/11/2002 8:30:39 AM PST by sweetliberty
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To: Billthedrill
And all of the Democrats collectively say "WE GET SIGNAL!"
42 posted on 11/11/2002 8:32:58 AM PST by Woodman
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To: strela
ROTFL! Victory is particularly sweet this time around huh?


43 posted on 11/11/2002 8:41:14 AM PST by sweetliberty
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To: FreedomWarrior
What was it that Peter Jennings said after The Republicans"Took Over" The House and Senate in 1994?I think it was something like"The American Electorate Has Had A Temper-Tantrum"!I always like Howard Beal(Network)!He Had it RIGHT!!"We're Mad As Hell And We're Not Going To Take It AnyMore!!!!
44 posted on 11/11/2002 8:46:15 AM PST by bandleader
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To: TonyRo76
We Live In HOPE!!
45 posted on 11/11/2002 8:47:06 AM PST by bandleader
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To: FreedomWarrior
"... 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.",

The very fact that he's alive proves once again that Democrats are not well-grounded.

46 posted on 11/11/2002 8:49:49 AM PST by Ditto
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To: Movemout
Hey but it was environmentally friendly, setting one's self on fire is so frowned upon, think of all those greenhouse gases.
47 posted on 11/11/2002 8:52:35 AM PST by VetoBill
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To: pfflier
I think that we should make it permanent!From here on,the closest that The LiboRATS come to REAL POWER is limited to portrayals in the movies and on TV!!!In 2004,I'll bet that some of the voters in FloriDuh will wonder why they can't find Martin Sheen on their ballots!!!!
48 posted on 11/11/2002 8:53:05 AM PST by bandleader
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Comment #49 Removed by Moderator

Comment #50 Removed by Moderator

To: Ditto
Ditto, that is SO lame...!

LOL!
51 posted on 11/11/2002 9:07:16 AM PST by ArcLight
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To: el_texicano
How is one a "mainstream liberal"???

White guy with a full time job.

52 posted on 11/11/2002 9:16:25 AM PST by VRWC_minion
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To: Blood of Tyrants
I think these leftists who have lost all hope are very sad. I mean that. Fundamentally it is not a political problem that they have - it is a religious one. Politics is all they really believe in. Many of them have no God (or their perception of God is wrong and holds no power for them) and government is the primary engine of societal change. Therefore when their candidates lose they have lost the only thing that gives them hope in this temporal universe.

The guy that tried to kill hjimself in Alaska - who foolish is that? That is terrible that anyone would actually hinge their lives on election results.
53 posted on 11/11/2002 9:28:30 AM PST by Zack Nguyen
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To: strela
These depressed Democrats need to find a life, after all the rest of us had to do somthing during the Clinton years. Anyway politics isn't their strong suite so they sould find somthing more level with their intelect. ?
54 posted on 11/11/2002 9:33:26 AM PST by oyez
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To: Zack Nguyen
The guy that tried to kill himself in Alaska

Just part of the brigade that thinks America should be a totally socialist state. We at FR should create an underground railroad to send them to Cuba, Nam, PRC or even Europe, but I'm afraid these countries will reject them in shot order.

55 posted on 11/11/2002 9:41:48 AM PST by oyez
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To: Billthedrill
"What you say!"

GWBin 2004, with great justice.

56 posted on 11/11/2002 9:50:09 AM PST by bribriagain
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To: PolishProud
I have started listening to Medved instead of Hannity.
They are on at the same time here in Los Angeles area.
I am tired of Hannity and sick of Flipper.
57 posted on 11/11/2002 9:53:04 AM PST by 2rightsleftcoast
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To: Always Right
They've already left the country. They live in California - it is so totally Democrat it might as well be France. We can all watch it slowly sink into the sea over the next few years, as conservatives and business flee for their sanity.

By the way, caught this at DU on their home page -

"There will be no Top Ten list this week, because the editors were simply too worn out and demoralized last week. We will be back next Monday."

I enjoyed reading that....

58 posted on 11/11/2002 10:50:14 AM PST by I still care
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To: PolishProud
Hannity reminds me of Lou Costello so much that I have a problem taking him seriously. Besides that, KVI (Seattle) dumped Medved because of him. I'll never get over that.
59 posted on 11/11/2002 12:19:43 PM PST by b-cubed
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To: bandleader
In 2004,I'll bet that some of the voters in FloriDuh will wonder why they can't find Martin Sheen on their ballots!!!!.

You've got a point there. I suspect that they are convinced that Republicans are dumb rednecks, but they demonstrate that reality is a foreign concept to them.

60 posted on 11/11/2002 1:08:35 PM PST by pfflier
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