100% behind trying someone new

[judecorp]

It's been a long time since I've written about politics. Actually, it's been a long time since I've written anything that vaguely resembles a political opinion, unless you count the comment I wrote in kungfoogirl's journal about Pride parades. It's been so long that it's nearly safe to say that I'm writing negative numbers of political posts, posts that used to be a dime a dozen in this LiveJournal. What the heck happened?

The truth of the matter is that I'm so disgusted with so many things that are going on that I haven't even wanted to think about them. I can't tell you the last time I read a newspaper. I know that when I took the car to get its state inspection sticker, there was a Boston Herald beside me and I didn't even want to soil my fingers with its ink. I don't even look at My Yahoo! page because it will have headlines on it, and frankly, I don't want to see them.

It's probably a cop-out, and I know that it makes me a bad (not to mention uninformed) citizen, but almost everything that goes on these days out in the political world makes me angry. Even those good things (like when Massachusetts ruled that same-sex marriage was granted by the consitution) were tainted by media spins, endless debates, and headlines like "Massachusetts allows gays to 'marry'" as if implying that same-sex marriages were faux marriages or cheap imitations. Grumble grumble.

And it's an election year, and don't even get me started on that. I remember when I was an idealistic younger person. Do you know that I didn't register to vote until I moved to Maine in 1997, even though I turned 18 in 1993? I used to be a person who said that I was refusing to vote until I found someone that I believed in, someone I really and truly wanted to win with all of my heart. I pompously told anyone who would listen that I would never be the sort of person who voted for one person just to keep another person out. In fact, I only registered in 1997 because Maine was trying to pass a "partial birth abortion" ban and I absolutely and emphatically wanted to make sure that didn't happen.

If I saw my 18-year-old self today I would scoff at her and tell her how ridiculous she is. I would explain to her that the simple fact is that no politician, ever, is ever going to represent her to the letter. Politicians are, nearly by nature, wealthy people from wealthy families who live wealthy lives. That is never going to be me, and unless I run for public office (which may happen someday, just you wait) I'd say it's guaranteed. But my 18-year-old self needs to know that there are truly people out there who are Bad For The Country, and those people need to be voted out at any cost, even if it means taking a gamble on whether the next person will be Just As Bad or, gods forbid, Worse.

So yes, John Kerry may be a total douchebag, a fence-sitter, a moderate, and he may change his opinions and he may have the longest face in Washington, but I'm voting for him anyway. I've had nearly four years of the alternative and I can say with all of my heart that the chance for Possibly Even A Little Tiny Bit Better is worth my passion, devotion, and electoral energy.

There. This smidgen of political opinion should tide me over for a few minutes, don't you think?

Comments

[wlscbone.livejournal.com]

You know, this is just what I wrote about in my journal. I am frightened to think what will happen if Bush is allowed another term in office.

It seems as though most people I talk to feel this way- that Kerry might not be the best, but he's leaps and bounds ahead of Bush

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I don't even care about leaps and bounds at this point. I'd settle for hops and skips. I can't believe I'd ever get to the point of "settling," but there you have it.

[lemur68.livejournal.com]

Eh, we all need a stress break, and it's not like you haven't been preoccupied. I could stand to lighten up from time to time--you probably would have been scared of me if you saw me after Fahrenheit 9/11 last night....:)

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I want to see that movie. A lot.

And yeah, we could all lighten up a little bit. Maybe.

[geniusorafool.livejournal.com]

Well, you got one thing right for sure...Kerry is a douchebag.

[thatpatti.livejournal.com]

you made me SNORT!

[geniusorafool.livejournal.com]

And you made me SNARF!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Which is WAY better than That Guy I Can't Stand and That Guy I Can't Stand Even More.

[yotto.livejournal.com]

I'm going to quote your quote:

Massachusetts allows gays to 'marry'

Many people (Reporters included) use "quotes" to "emphasize." It looks "horrible" because quotes mean the "opposite" of "emphasize this."

Also, "people" who use quotes to emphasize "things" frequently don't understand "other" rules of grammar, like "the" fact that "you" shouldn't emphasize words just because you feel "like" it.

So, don't assume they're jerks. Assume they're stupid.

Oh, and kjtoo gave me a link that may be up your alley. It was up mine and you seem to have the same opinions (at least on the presidential race) as I do. Check out http://johnkerryisadouchebagbutimvotingforhimanyway.com/ (http://johnkerryisadouchebagbutimvotingforhimanyway.com/), possibly the longest url that I've ever memorized.

[hope-persists.livejournal.com]

I was just about to give smurfy that link, too!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know they use "quotes" to "emphasize" but it's not only an incorrect use of punctuation (and I am a Grammar Nazi after all), it irritates me.

And I am a HUGE FAN of that website. I came across it last month some time and could not stop laughing. Hence my choice of language above.

[oxlahun.livejournal.com]

Yay! Jude for President!

Please can I be one of your campaign flunkies that gets a cushy patronage job on the Cabinet? Please?

Re: Cabinet position

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Are you planning to, you know, "earn" it?

[folkyboy.livejournal.com]

good post! brava!

[cathboblet.livejournal.com]

My political situation has been the reverse of yours, in many ways. All I can say is that for the first time in my life I'm profoundly *glad* I don't have a vote to cast.

I will, however, come out of organizing retirement to work on Jude for Anything =)

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

You'll have to have the ability to vote here when I run for president! :) And maybe I will make you my VP!!

[smurfbrother.livejournal.com]

My first mentor, Paul Hagner, once had this to say:

"There are 2 ways for an individual to affect US politics: become a politician, or kill one."

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Hmm. That gives me an idea! ;)

[kat-chan.livejournal.com]

I've been having a hard time with this election. I really, really don't like Kerry. I think that he's only a couple of shades less evil than Bush. His vacilation on the the gay marriage issue is really distressing to me. And yet, what choice do I have? I live in a battleground state. My vote could very well make a difference. Do I vote for a candidate who better matches my ideology, possibly handing Ohio to Dubya? Or do I swallow my bile and vote for someone that I can stand only slightly more than Bush? It's not an attractive situation to be in, and I wish the Democrats would have nominated a better candidate. I get sick of this pandering to the middle crap. The middle is always going to be sliding back and forth, no matter who the parties run, and as best as I can tell, they don't decide their votes on anything as coherent as policy positions or visions for America's future. Instead they seem more likely to vote for the guy they'd rather see on their TV for the next four years. It's so frustrating. I saw a program over the weekend (I think it was Meet the Press, but I'm not positive) where it was discussed that when the public is polled on their opinions on specific issues they are almost consistantly majority-liberal in their positions, especially on social issues. So how is it then that we end up with a government like the one that we have?

*screams in frustration* I really wish that I felt like I had a choice that I could be proud of making. *sighs heavily*

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I understand that you are in a tough situation. But I really do think that this will be another close election, and you most certainly live in a battleground state. It's a sticky situation to be in, because you may not have all of the liberties to "vote your conscience" if you have a bigger-picture need, you know?

It's pretty standard procedure that a presidential candidate will play to the middle during the electoral process and then, once in office, will move closer to one of the poles. (Bush is a prime example of this, just in the wrong direction.) I think you'll find that some of Kerry's "flip-flops" are due to this phenomenon (which don't excuse them, of course) and I don't believe he is just "a couple of steps below Bush." But hell, even if he is, I'll take a couple of steps below right about now.

[kat-chan.livejournal.com]

See, I do realize, especially this year, that the couple of shades of difference are important. However, I think when people are expecting Kerry is only playing to the middle for his campaign, they haven't really looked closely at his voting record. Not only did he vote for the use of force in Iraq, he also voted for the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (which has allowed for the continued consolidation of the Baby Bells, among other problems) and the Digital Millenium Copyright Act. I really wish I didn't feel like he was a corporate tool, but his voting record makes me skeptical of that. And more than anything, we need a president who is going to stand up to the corporations as well as to the religious conservatives.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

He's definitely a Corporate Tool. Unfortunately, this country is run by corporations, and the only person who has a chance of winning has corporations on their side. It's disgusting but true.

The good of the people? What the hell is that, you know?

[kat-chan.livejournal.com]

I understand. I just have gotten frustrated with hearing everyone resignedly talking about how you can't do anything about it. If people were really sick of it, you'd think that they'd see to it that someone not beholden to corporations got the nomination/won the election. But it seems to be one of those things where everyone likes to complain about it, but they don't want to do anything about it. :(

[mightywombat.livejournal.com]

Just so you're aware, I just sent that Wandering Journal to you today. Should arrive in a few days, hopefully. Enjoy!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Oooh yay!!

[carina-s.livejournal.com]

I feel similarly. Before 2000 I was not very passionate about politics at all. Of course, I'm not too enthused about Kerry- but he's better than Bush.