there is something different about this election

i work in a place where there are both demos and repubs; more repubs, i would guess. and they have, in the past, talked to each other about the election results. but not this time...

there is something different about this election. few at the voter level are talking about it. one side is relieved and the other side is devastated. but, they are not talking to each other about it like they have in the past. it is like everyone knows that this is not right. the "victors" know that they are barely ahead. the"losers" know that they are barely behind. we are a divided nation. united we stand and divided we are. for the sake of this world and the soul of the U.S., we need to stay that way.

Bush Supporters Still Believe Iraq Had WMD or Major Program,
Supported al Qaeda

Agree with Kerry Supporters Bush Administration Still Saying This is the Case

Agree US Should Not Have Gone to War if No WMD or Support for al Qaeda

Bush Supporters Misperceive World Public as Not Opposed to Iraq War,
Favoring Bush Reelection

Even after the final report of Charles Duelfer to Congress saying that Iraq did not have a significant WMD program, 72% of Bush supporters continue to believe that Iraq had actual WMD (47%) or a major program for developing them (25%). Fifty-six percent assume that most experts believe Iraq had actual WMD and 57% also assume, incorrectly, that Duelfer concluded Iraq had at least a major WMD program. Kerry supporters hold opposite beliefs on all these points.

Similarly, 75% of Bush supporters continue to believe that Iraq was providing substantial support to al Qaeda, and 63% believe that clear evidence of this support has been found. Sixty percent of Bush supporters assume that this is also the conclusion of most experts, and 55% assume, incorrectly, that this was the conclusion of the 9/11 Commission. Here again, large majorities of Kerry supporters have exactly opposite perceptions.

Source: http://www.pipa.org/OnlineReports/Pres_Election_04/html/new_10_21_04.html

I think that it has to do with the underlying intuition, knowledge that we were sooooooooooooooooo screwed. I think that people are either afraid of talking about it cause the obvious conclusions, and that they cannot support an actual authentic Bush win, or we are so shell shocked that the implications of the theft of this election are horrifying to our Democracy. Nobody I know is talking about it unless we are clear that we are on the same page. I am so glad that I found this forum - it is really sustaining me through all of this

Glad to be here

politics, and vent their frustration. That has never
happened to me before, either.

About 5 days after the election, I had to ask people to leave me alone for a while b/c I really needed to let the whole thing process or my head would explode.

I've been making that connection for some time now.

Maybe it's just the "Progressive" history of Wisconsin, but people here are still shocked by the election results.

When little old ladies tell you that they're in shock, still upset by the results, or even wondering if the results are genuine, I think you can safely take off the tinfoil hat.

we have 14 people and 4 of us voted for K/E and the rest voted for Shrub. The 4 of us expected the days after the election to be hell. It has been eerily quiet though. None of them have mentioned anything about the election or the outcome at all.

1) The election was stolen.

2) Kerry was the better candidate.

I suspect the rethugs are gloating but afraid to say anything to us for the justifiable fear of getting punched in the face. Some of them, in their dim reptilian brains, may sense how furious we are.

And many of us are talking among ourselves privately, but aren't speaking to the rethugs because we don't want to get arrested for assault & battery.

I argue with a restaurant owner all the time, and I even lost a $100 bet with him over this election, but although he's a real jerk he's been VERY nice to me since Nov. 2nd.

I'm also gotten uncomfortable working for Texas Instruments. This is one of the companies that went head-over-heels for Bush and Congressman Pete Sessions. This tells me what they really think of their employees.

know I was a RABID Kerry supporter. They also know I can, when provoked, respond with the ferocity of a chihuahua on speed. They are, therefore, not provoking me.

Wise call on their part. I'm in no mood for their shit.

is right now both sides hate and fear the other. I had a good friend who lived around the corner from me and, because I know she and her husband voted for Bush, I just don't want anything to do with them right now... and maybe never again.

In my mind, it boiled down to either you voted for Bush because you knew what he stood for and agreed with it, which I found to be immoral, or you didn't know what he stood for and didn't bother to inform yourself, which I find to be stupid. Bottom line: Right now I just can't stand stupid or immoral people.

But, I have to confess, that when I read their rhetoric, they think people on our side just "don't get it," that we're either immoral or brainwashed. Of course, we've got the PIPA report on OUR side.:think:

They know the backlash is coming.

the Ohio recount is on.

The undercurrent is gonna turn into a wave.

A great wave.

We are living in historic times. After being crushed so many times
in the last 4 yrs I'm trying not to get my hopes up but my eternal
optimism is getting in the way.

In fact these times won't be just historic,
they will be legendary.

<Optimism Off>

'kay, I'm embittered once again...

did so out of habit. But they aren't talking about it because they're afraid of what is coming over the next 4 years.

well,
A flawed process elected the President in 2000, so why not a flawed mindset in 2004!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

My 7 best friends are Repubs and voted for Bush. I worked my ass off for Kerry and they knew it. No one said a word to me about the election. I talk to these people everyday. It is as though it didn't happen.

As opposed to the Rethuglicans
Also nobody, but no Republican I have talked to remembered Bush saying anything about reforming Social Security.

I spoke to my father yesterday (a very tepid Bush supporter). He is a MSM man (watches, not works in). And he really is a person of great integrity- disagreed with Iraq war, concerned about the deficit for his grandkids, could not see any benefit to the prescription drug plan. He even liked Bill Clinton. He's just always voted Republican (except for Nixon) and I guess figured he's too old (75) to jump off the boat now.

He said "Boy the election sure calmed down quickly". He had NO idea, absolutely no idea about all of the 'irregularities' that went on this go round. He said that he knew about the Ohio recount but that is all. I started telling him about just a few- machines counting backward, machine ADDING thousands of votes, etc. He asked where he could find out more...I pointed him to BBV under the guise of being aware and educated about the situation.

He was SHOCKED and truly had no idea.

The day after the election, a woman I work with came in and actually cheered, drawing the attention of customers, "You lost, you lost!" like I was the one running for president. She addressed all the customers that day like they voted for Bush, too. Most of them thought she was off her rocker. (Heavy Kerry support here)

Mind you, this is a woman who is against gay marriage because the bible tells her it is wrong, yet she lived with a married man for six years......eh, she wasn't his wife, however. Narrow moral view for others.....broad for herself. You know the type.

She is also ignorant. Not stupid, exactly. Just really, really ignorant. A prime example of Bush's base. No more needs to be said on that.

As far as talking about the election, I don't because I am afraid of what I might say to a Bush supporter. It wouldn't be nice.

Oh, and Kerry signs are still on the lawns, too. It is like it isn't over at all.

except in the outlying areas. Everywhere I go people are murmuring, "I can't live in a country with people who would vote for that man" " I am in shock", at schools, the grocery store, everywhere, people were visibly depressed in the days after the election. One of my kids is in a private schools with extremely affluent (not us) people and there was overwhelming support for Kerry there. Even my evil step mother who always voted republican is upset about the election.

Article in yesterday's paper said that counselors are swamped with people depressed over the election. I am not depressed as long as I am fighting. I am working on a flier today --will print it up tomorrow and paste it all over campus and in coffee shops etc.... not depressed now, but if this doesnt go the way we hope, I am afraid to imagine how depressed I might become!

I don't remember people in past presidential elections wanting to commit suicide or leave the country when their candidate apparently lost. Troubling, eh?

He said the hits on their website have gone up 10 fold since the election

I dropped out of college, but since I see it'll be a lot easier to move to France with a degree I'm enrolling in the University of Phoenix Online. I'm gonna knock those classes out like popcorn.

there. He loved it, said the people were very friendly . . . and amazingly, even though they ate great food all the time, he did not see any fat people there, the way you do here in the U.S.

Please maintain the rage, and fight for the right for your vote to be counted fairly. Fight forever for that right.

Your government has such an effect on the whole planet. The rest of us can only watch on... YOU get to vote. Treasure that vote. Fight for real democracy in your country because without that, there is little hope for a better world.

Your nation was born out of opposition to tyranny, by courageous and wise people. I believe the depths of your culture and history are on your side. This is not about an election it is about the great republic.

I had planned to leave, because I can, but my friends are here. I cannot abandon them, so it's important to stay and do what needs to be done.

If bush follows the path of Repub second-termers, he will go down in disgrace.

Personally, I believe Kerry won. It is easy for me to hold my head up high and ignore anyone who is foolish enough to think bush had a snowball's chance in hell of legitimately winning this election. Justice will be served, either by Americans, or by Karma.

:toast:

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

...however I know some pretty left wing, cynical people.

who the thief is.

The Emerging Democratic Majority will have its say yet.

Two reasons why I believe the Repubs at church aren't talking to me about "Winning the Election."

1. They are afraid of what they have done. Some of these Repubs aren't real stupid. They just voted on one issue (mostly anti-abortion in my church) and knew that B**H had serious problems in Iraq, with social security, with separation of church and state etc... They thought democrats would keep B**h in check on the other issues at least at the congressional level. They didn't think Repubs would win in everything. They are afraid they created a monster. They look stunned.

2. Repubs like secrets. Bushites don't encourage free and open discussion.

They are also a little afraid I may hit them. They seemed to be surprised that I came back to church.

it is EXACTLY as you describe where I work too. Curious, isn't it?

If I mention the election, they give me a pained look and say "please don't talk about the election" ... everyone is just so sad.

:cry: