Wow. Terrible. It’s awful. I’ve just learned that Arnold is our new
Governor. And the first thing that occurs to me, aside from the
lemmings argument, which is totally legitimate, thoroughly compelling,
but unkind, is that I must see hardship before I see gain.
I turned on Sweet Honey and the Rock. It’s the end of what I can
stand to hear about the California election. It’s terrible that we had
to
vote again, quite frankly—I mean, c’mon, we gotta go back in
November!—but it’s that sort of thing we gotta do. I guess.
It’s really the failure of the Dems write large. I mean to indict,
here, all the dems who (have) said, “Whatever. Fuck the fringe. The
goal is to be as not-Left as possible while still being an Opposition
Party.” Fuck them. This is what they made. It’s nice to have the
California example for the rest of the country when it comes to the
2004 election. Basically, what we’re talking about here is that Davis
did not live up to the Dem ideal of considering the less fortunate.
This is about that; this is about radical ideology not saving you when
it’s about groping of the governor if you’ve been more interested in
corporate payoffs—EVER—over what’s right. That’s the problem with the
Dems. They never prioritize right over money. They don’t take the most
wrong money, but they never prioritize right over money. Case in point:
Davis.
When we first heard about the recall, those who voted for Davis in
order to avert the catastrophe that we Californians now face
(Republican control) did not pay it much mind. We already sacrificed
our ideals for the most likely shill to win the race—of course it could
not be undone. Well… having seen a few movies in my life, it’s not
crazy to me that a movie star would win in a state that is home to the
movie stars—even if that particular movie star is not so much of an
actor as a force, even if that man didn’t have one good idea he was
willing to outline before the People. But I’d hoped people were smart
enough to—
And that’s where I find myself now: ashamed to admit the people are
lemmings. I’ve suspected it in my no-tv, just books and Information
(and public radio) world, but it was something I buried, something I
knew was true, couldn’t blame the Populace for, so whatever.
Now, it’s come to fruition. The calls from Clinton on my voicemail
(I’m a working Murkun, after all) were a sign; as were the allegations
of sexual harassment, which I’ve known since Anita Hill was a
nonstarter—and I’m not even a Dem strategist—when they came too late
across the media, as Murkuns were wishing T3 had been as good as the
others, not starring an old, fat, cigar-smoking Capitalist. Too bad.
Funny thing is, only my principles separate me from the throng of
Pickupville, California, who voted like crazy for the one guy who was
more to them than a liar for hire—yeah, acting is supposed to be about
telling the truth, even when you’re typecast. I’m actually fortunate
enough to be a homosexual, white male (who can play straight) who earns
way more than the average resident of Truckville, California. And
because I grew up in Truckville, Texas, of working class parents, with
a brain and a desire to hold on to what I believed was mine and They
were trying to take, I can totally relate to those who either didn’t
vote ‘cause why, or those who voted for the movie star whose name meant
something to them other than paid to lie for his own good on the
coattails of his contributors.
Oddly, it’s fitting, too, that this happens in here. Murkuh, you’re
not special. We have defined what happens for you forever: be afraid.
It couldn’t happen here was what I thought through the whole stolen
election. And the California Dems might prove the national Dems wrong
as regards the resistance factor—but why should we have had to,
national Dems?
I’ll tell ya: it’s because we have had something of a coup here too.
It’s complete. They’ve taken over even California. Stand up now for the
principles, fight the money power, and fuck those who think the path of
least political anxiety is the best path.
Davis could have won this—if the Dems had been with their guy. They
weren’t. They ran Cruz—for whom I voted, no spoiler here—who was not a
retort. Feinstein would not have been a better answer; as a
Californian, I’ve written so many angry letters to her for supporting
the bush agenda to the detriment of our interests. But what could
anyone have expected from Feinstein? She’s only a Democrat, after all.
And the Dems have always been about non-evil repubs having a place to
vote, or at least always in my thirty years. It’s either about keeping
yours, or being fair. I have yet to see a democrat in my lifetime who,
during his reign, understood the difference.
Fine, Truckville: thanks for whatever benefits I may have as a result
of your lemming vote. Glad you got it well enough to understand, if not
the issue, that the dems are no legitimate counterpoint when we’re
talking human lives in society. I wish you’d understood that the
republicans, regardless of their thick-necked ambassador, will never
argue for your fair treatment—they’ve sent your jobs overseas, and the
dems have gone along with them on that, time and again. Thanks for the
additional financial benefits I, one of yours, will receive because I
had the benefit of being white, male, and highly educated. I voted for
your interests to the detriment of my portfolio, because I believe they
are my soul's interests—you voted for my propertied interests because
you believed they’re your interests.
I wish you’d won for real.