As predicted here last Friday, it appears that Hurricane Sandy was the "black swan" event that stopped Mittmentum and caused the presidential election to revert back from a dead heat and the possibility of a long drawn out recount battle in one or more battleground states to a relatively easy Obama victory. Thus was the incumbent awarded a second term he most decidedly does NOT deserve. Despite its many discontents, in the end America voted for the status quo because the alternative was even more unthinkable. It ought to go without saying, but this is NOT how a representative democracy is supposed to work.
I could go on and on about how the country is now going to get four more years of the same old shit, but I'm tired of writing about all of that. Instead, I'll just highlight my greatest personal disappointment from this election. Stephenson County, Illinois, my home county and as I have written about numerous times on this blog the setting of Bain Capital's horrendous decision to close down the local Sensata plant and move all of the jobs to China, went comfortably for Romney despite having a front row seat to witness what his brand of vulture capitalism is all about. If seeing your friends, relatives and neighbors stripped of their jobs while enduring the additional humiliation of having to train their Chinese replacements isn't enough to wake people the fuck up, then there is no hope for this country.
On a personal note, I am taking another break from blogging. I'm burned out and just cannot keep writing about this stuff right now. Maybe I'll be back to comment on the impending "fiscal cliff" battle in Washington, though I'll note that just last week the craven Speaker of the House indicated that he's amenable to passing a so-called "bridge" bill during the congressional lame duck session that will push back the looming deadlines into next year. And thus does the can get kicked down the road yet again with no possibility of any real solutions being offered. Just like the last four grueling years.
Bonus: "It's the same old song and dance"
Completely understand about your decision to take a break! Take care. I'll keep an eye out for new posts as I have enjoyed your writing for a few years now.
ReplyDeleteDawn L
I understand how writing about these issues day after day can be wearisome. It would make a difference if there was ever anything joyful to report but stupidity on stupidity will wear anyone down. I know how rough it just reading it from authors like you and others. Get some rest and relax. I'll miss your writings but I want you to come back strong with your batteries recharged. Don't give up on us; we're not all stupid. Thanks for what you have done!
ReplyDeleteWe're just Greece, a few years behind the curve ...
ReplyDeleteI heard an interview on NPR last night with somebody at Harvard (I didn't catch who), about influences on the election and he said that if he were the Mittster he would be furious at my governor, Chris Christie, because he cited the bromance as influencing voters, enough of whom erroneously believed that Christie actually endorsed Obama.
ReplyDeleteHow STUPID would you have to be to think that?
Great stuff, BH, thanks. Excellent string of recent posts, spot-on analysis as usual. Will miss reading you, but hope you enjoy your respite!
ReplyDeleteIn an Aerosmith vein, get ready for a Big 10 Inch ... Which my brief Youtube search reveals is actually a cover of a song by a gent named Bull Moose Jackson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rws_7mLTqj8
ReplyDeleteDefinitely take a breather. You'll find a lot of good from getting some fresh air. I'll be watching your blog, though, and thanks again for providing a place of sanity in an insane world.
ReplyDeleteI think Sandy had some effect, yes, but it's really the minority vote that did it. I thought Obama would lose the election because of a lack of enthusiasm amongst his base, but his election team proved themselves first-class pros at campaigning and getting out their vote again. The GOP simply can't expect to put a bald-faced plutocrat white guy and an ideological lap puppy in the race, talk about how Hispanics should practice self-deportation, and win a national race anymore - at least against someone who is a minority candidate himself (and one as slick as Obama and his team).
Watching his speech (while trying not to fall asleep), I was struck by a few things. I voted for Obama four years ago (not this time), and I remember being greatly inspired by his acceptance speech at the time. We had elected a black man with a weird name and best of all, we had taken a sledge hammer to the Bush era (or so I thought). I also remember how Republicans would mock his supporters by calling them 'Obama-bots' and so on. On last night's acceptance speech, I just thought how it was all simply pretty words without substance or meaning to me, and the people in the audience really got on my nerves. One dude was wearing a grey suit and sunglasses and he kept striking poses. I would have screamed if it weren't for the fact that I'm burned out by it all myself.
Thanks again. Have a happy downward spiral, or long emergency, or whatever this monster that is breathing down our necks turns out to be, and I personally hope to read your thoughts on it all from time to time.
Dude! Dunno how you did as much as you did! :D
ReplyDeleteSadly, I think in the not-too-distant future we'll be looking back nostagically at these years not as grueling but as the good times.
ReplyDeleteBill Hicks--
ReplyDeleteThanks for your blog; I will look forward to your (eventual) return. Every once in a while I unplug and work on the things that are the most personally meaningful--which are not always the most practical!
Gail--
As bad as things are--and they are--they are sure to get worse. I don't have to roam the internet to see that: People I know are freaking out and folding up. The worst is you can't tell them anything: They cling to their old ideas even as none of it works.
--Gaianne
There was no "there" there concerning "Mittmentum"
ReplyDeleteChin up, with any luck, things might not last 4 more years...
ReplyDeleteI recommend this blog for more gruelling years. Yes I do. And like Ben, I don't know how you do it, thank god.
ReplyDeletegraveday
Bill, I hope that you keep posting, even if its on a weekly basis.
ReplyDeleteHi Bill, big fan of your blog. Just blog when you have something to say or there is a hot news item (*ahem* Israel/Gaza). Anyway, thanks for all the good work!
ReplyDeleteI'm one of those folks who did NOT vote for the same old shit, I voted for a third party contender knowing that the dam electoral "collage" had the real "vote".Too many people are brain washed and are unable to move out of the coffin of the "two" parties that are just the same corporate puppets.So we get four more long bloody years of endless illegal wars and occupations, more war on drugs, more violations of the constitution and bill of "rights", more lies and more unemployment and rising poverty as the rich continue to get richer. There is no hope for this country that is ruled by the greedy rich and corporations. Good by amerikkka, I see behind your mask and it's a very ugly critter.
ReplyDeleteApparently, you can thank Anonymous (but not me, I swears):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QITGHymqZvo&feature=player_embedded
And:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J2NMyUncos&feature=player_embedded
I have an 'itchy' feeling when it comes to RT. I like a lot of their guests, but I don't trust them any more than I'd trust any media outlet of an increasingly authoritarian state. But a lot of what Thom Hartmann is saying falls in the realm of at least possibility.
I get that same feeling...
DeleteHey Bill, when you getting back to blogging? We miss your commentary.
ReplyDeleteBreak over? We miss your commentary!
ReplyDeleteWith all of that writing flowing
ReplyDeleteIn articles polished and glowing,
Plus all the bestowing
Of stuff he was knowing,
There’s no way that Bill could keep going.
Crosspost from a where’s Bill thread here:
http://forums.silentcountry.com/forums/showthread.php?23048-Bill-Hicks...where-are-you
Glad to see I'm not the only one still checking for a revival!
ReplyDeleteWhere have you gone, BH? A nation turns its lonely eyes to you...
Turns out he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March/2013. He made a last post on Silco about it and then nada so far anywhere.
ReplyDeleteHe said he had a fighting chance. Hope for the best.
Bill this was a great blog. I would love to see you come back.
ReplyDelete