The American people look at themselves with hidden guilt...

But, they are not alone. They had millions of "accomplices". How could they have been so blind, many ask themselves? How could they have put this man back in office for a second time in 2004? What were they thinking?

Many now realize they were used by the propaganda machine. They believed that John Kerry was the lesser of the two men. Now, as they look in the mirror, it is they that were deceived. Their only consolation is that they are not alone in their deception.

They now find themselves with a leader that has 2 1/2 years to go and they have no idea where he is going. They now see more clearly the disaster in Iraq, although some still refuse to admit it, because they have invested sons and daughters in the deception. But, it is an uneasy feeling that shrouds their thinking.

And now, there is little doubt that the economy is adrift. The good numbers that are mustered up by the Administration are from the wealth of the taxbreaks and Wall Street and has little bearing on Main Street. They see the huge deficits as far as the eye can see. They know we are on the wrong track.

But only in their most intimate conversations with their loved ones can they confess their guilt. They made a catastrophic mistake by voting for George W Bush. They had a chance to correct the mistakes of the first four years but they made the decision that will make the solutions almost impossible. They cannot escape their responsibilities.

They do not need the "liberals" to tell them they were wrong. They know it. They live with their guilt. But, partisanship prevents them from discussing it in public. So many still pretend that it is all an illusion. Things are not really as bad as they think. They will listen to their leaders - like Limbaugh and Hannity and Rove for direction. Meanwhile, their guilt is written on their faces.

This illusion of American people running the government has to be diminished. We don't.
Our critics in the international community want to dislike Americans, for their own
reasons, and so try to affiliate us with the government. We do not and have not had any
impact on our government since the year 2000. The critics will just have to find another
bugbear to absolve their own guilt.

I would feel some guilt.

I suspect every single "vote" the monster received. I think there's abundant proof he's nothing more than a Junta.

Americans are biggest BS'er's and the easiest to BS. We were BS'ed by this frat boy. Yes, I did not vote for bush either, but right now, we are all in this together. We have to fight (take it whatever way you want) to get our country back. This maniac must go, and can take Cheney and the rest of his cabal with him.

It's not like he was elected to the office.

...The good numbers are a direct result of the below market interest rate regime of Sir Greenspan, the greatest money printing binge of our lifetimes. Add to that the deliberate undercounting of inflation statistics and voila...you have "high growth", "low inflation", and "high productivity".

In essence they are cooking the books on the statistical end and watering the stock on the monetary end. Without the ridiculously low cost of money, we would be locked in a global deflationary spiral fed by cheap labor rates and ferocious foreign competition.

However I do concur with the main thrust of your post - that many have buyer's remorse, not only regarding Bush himself, but the whole "Iraq cakewalk" scenario as well. But many seem willing to hold their noses and march confidently into Iran under the same rubrics that they now recognize as "falafel" regarding Iraq. Why? Because it serves the cause of empire, an empire that allows the points stated in my first paragraph - the free lunch.

Empires never learn, they self immolate from sloth, hubris, and internal deception. The alternative would be to look in the mirror and say...boy, am I a fuck up! And we all know how likely that scenario is.

"Proud to be an American" can be seen on so many US bumper stickers. I wonder if the occupants of those cars have ever heard of the old phrase..."Pride goeth before the fall..."

None of them really talked about their buyer's remorse...but it was evident in that all subjects were avoided having to do with Bush, Economy, Iraq. Avoided. And these are family members who used to love talking politics. (they aren't fundies...just mainstream Repugs)

There was a sadness there...but no one would bring anything up that would point to the issues swirling around us.

I appreciate a bit of heartfelt breast beating as much as folks do in downtown Tehran but cut yourself some slack.

Bush is a thief, an electoral fraud - he didn't win - he never won.

Subtract whatever you think he stole and you still come up with a lot of people that must feel used?

it should be Gore or Kerry in the white house because MORE voted for them both times.

it would be more honest just to bitch about people who voted for Bush.

First of all, it has to be close enough to steal. But, it is already written in stone that they can steal it whenever they like, what's the use of voting at all? What's the use of even being here at DU? Why not just surrender....rather than discouraging every other voter that might think their votes makes a difference...

snakes. I don't care if it takes 5 months, 5 years or 500 years these bastards are not going to win, as the saying goes all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men ( and women ) to do nothing. It's a painful struggle but it is worth the effort.

You mentioned 60 million, 60 million quitter republicans who do nothing but whine, moan and sling mud.

Compare that to 60 million Democrats that give a damn, each doing a little. It may not be much but it's 60 million small acts and a damn sight better than nothing. Think of those high school kids protesting about immigration, they got out on the streets to be heard, if they had done nothing who would hear their voices ?

Even if you do the smallest act within your power to change things for the better it is better than doing nothing. (on edit) How about changing electoral practices in your neck of the woods or at least trying to figure out who is messing with them.

and they are really becoming afraid of what Bush might do before he leaves office.

...traces to us, the citizenry. Stolen elections or no, either we impose our will on the government or they impose the will of their corporate keepers/sponsors on us. The collective responsibility traces to, and ends with, us. This is not a guilt trip, but merely a statement of fact---and for the sake of our children if not ourselves, we should own up to it. A nonviolent revolution of massive, well organized, noncooperation remains our only chance to change the face of America from the horribly ugly image we now project, back to what it once was and could become again.