I've been doing a Schadenfreude Snoopy-dance recently. A grand one, really; you should see it. It involves a great deal of foot-stomping and wailing to the rafters. Self-righteous tub-thumping.
I should mention I work in a heavily Republican-dominated atmosphere. More than one desk is adorned with Bush bumperstickers and campaign paraphernalia; one has a picture of its occupant with the President himself. We few Dems -- and we know who we are -- tend to be quiet about our affiliation. There's been no hazing reported, but good Lord -- who wants to tempt fate in this economy?
But not now. Oh no. And what are we crowing about?
The party of family values can't be trusted to protect our own children, much less this country and its ideals.
Burn, baby, burn. And so we dance.
I'll admit this embarrasses me. I was raised not to make light, or make fun of, other people's misery. But so help me, I have not been able to stop myself. The events of the past 6 years rendered that part of my psyche numb with respect to the GOP and their follies. Snarky emails and snide comments have flown between me and my friends as we watched one revelation after another uncovered. Impassioned debates with my Republican co-workers, full of snappy comebacks and finger pointing. L'esprit d'escalier, for once not thought of on the staircase but whipping from of my mouth at full speed at the time and place I've needed it. As for my coworkers, they have nothing to say that I can't counter. And they have no answers. The scandal has been that devastating to their belief.
And I've gloried in it.
But then something stopped all that.
::
Two little lines at the bottom of an unrelated news story taught me humility.
Donors from around the world are pledging money to help the families of the dead and wounded. Amounts ranging from $1 to $500,000 have been received and could help defray mounting medical bills.
At the behest of Amish leaders, a fund has also been set up for the killer's widow and children.
.
(source)
Two little lines. A world of grace.
I remember back to the black days immediately following the 2004 election, when Bush started to use his 51% "mandate" to push for items important to his base and to himself personally. Horrifying things, stupid things, selfish things. I remember thinking it was a shame he didn't understand he was the leader of the other half of the country as well, and should have had everyone's interests at heart.
I forgot about those feelings of abandonment, this week. It took the grace of the Amish, the generosity of spirit that impelled them to recognize the suffering of the widow of their attacker to bring it back to the front of my mind.
If we are truly the part of the big tent we must learn from this. It seems clear we have a real shot at retaking one of the Houses come November 7th. God willing, we will take both of them. And then the real work can start.
Schadenfreude aside: we have a responsibility to the nation and history to reverse the wrongs inflicted by the current maladministration. For the benefit of all Americans, not just those who voted with us. We need to make sure we have affordable healthcare, a safety net, a strong national infrastructure, a sane defense policy, a balanced budget, and a government that cares about their welfare regardless of their political beliefs.
So: no more Schadenfreude Snoopy Dancing for me. Will I make sure the story stays in the limelight? Yes. Gently remind my friends to vote responsibly? You bet. But I'm putting away the baseball bat, and my dancing shoes. I think I've done enough, there.
We know the right thing to do. Let's fix this. Let's do it.
::
Today's Top Comments
First, Contributions!
From god less force:
From KingOneEye's diary Will Somebody Please Give Bush a Blow Job?, this comment and response had me rolling!
From noweasels
robokos on a new way to measure President Bush's approval numbers
MO Blue on the culture of torture
hopesprings on yet another debasement of the military
wiseFool opines on the real motives of the Christofascist leadership. [To which I add: remember Jim Bakker!]
Eric Klein on a life-changing memory from his childhood during the Vietnam War.
From emeraldmaiden
From common denominator's diary Baaaah, Believe Bush or my lying eyes?, irishwitch talks about what it takes to get people moving in a crisis.
In the Beyond Sick: Drudge "It's the kids fault" defense diary by lawnorder (love that user name! Makes me think of gardening and/or TV, depending on my mood), there are two comments that struck me - the first, by bionic and the second by KJC MD
From Cronesense
Diary: STORYIME: Talismans by Cronesense
emeraldmaiden with a tale about a pair of jeans.
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Diary: The True Religious Right Got Punked by: MadAsHellMaddie
Esjaydee reports findings from various fundy sites.
Bill O Rights on where ethics should start.
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Diary: Jeb Bush cornered by: the freak
srkp23 asks a stunning question in more ways than one.
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Diary: It's not a conspiracy theory by: loloc
ImpeachKingBushII nails down the brass tacks.
KJC MD offers a strong opinion.
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Diary: Full Circle: From Jim Wright to Dennis Hastert by: intrepidliberal
Ghost of Frank Zappa has a pithy comparison.
~~~~~~~~~~
Diary: Herding Rabid Cats--Keeping Democrats on Message by: edgery
DBunn has a list of talking points for Sunday shows.
From nonnie9999
If Christian Dem in NC's diary doesn't scare the crap out of you, then maybe wonkydonkey's reminder will.
In teacherken's diary, inclusiveheart makes a great point, and MadRuth might be mad, but she sure makes a lot of sense!
My picks for the day:
teacherken's excellent diary Have we reached a tipping point generated a great many comments, most worthy of inclusion here. Please read the diary when you get a moment; in the meantime, here are a few samples of the discussion generated:
- DWG muses on the growing awareness of the American people
- DrWolfy warns of the value of a free press
- inclusiveheart on the differences between "reporting" and "leaking"
- kestrel9000 asserts that Dissent against the Republicans is now saleable
miguelmas describes the importance of citizen journalism
mateosf tells a personal story of the lack of a future in journalism
ksuwildkat refutes the idea that the Repugs are pro-military
panicbean on the irony of the Repugs running on family values
Roddy McCorley successfully equates the GOP with Elmer J. Fudd, millionaire
DallasDoc gives us a very useful GOTV phrase
zic makes an interesting observation regarding public and media reaction to sex scandals and the gender of the victim involved
DallasDoc again, this time with an outstanding list of avenues to pursue once we regain control of the House and/or Senate
upperleftedge, the ocean, and hope
slipperytoad on the Repugs' Eleventh Commandment
Serendipity on the Repugs' record-setting loss of power
teacherken has a few questions about blackmail and the level of Repugs' control over one another
DallasDoc (who is on fire today!) gives us another great comment on the Repugs' survival tactics
By Mojo
Without (obvious) tip jars:
1 I saw a big smile on Bash's face...like she had by JellyPuddin -- 141
2 thanks by MadAsHellMaddie -- 109
3 He's a disbarred lawyer ... by Meteor Blades -- 82
4 That's what Phelps wants. by Bob Love -- 69
5 The Republicans call them "leaks" by inclusiveheart -- 61
6 I didn't mean to ... by Patrick Kennedy -- 60
7 CAPTAIN, you served, on naval ships during armed by testvet6778 -- 58
8 I received some bad news on Thursday by Coldblue Steele -- 57
9 Thanks (n/t) by AaronBa -- 55
10 Without a free press... by DrWolfy -- 52
11 Warm up the bulldozers by Dallasdoc -- 50
12 . by kestrel9000 -- 50
13 Roger that - by occams hatchet -- 49
14 I have the most wonderful Fucking Problem by Mrs Pastor -- 48
15 Iraq will be studied 100 years from now... by Shockwave -- 47
16 And for reasons of Batshit Craziness by bluerevolt -- 45
17 My Fucking Problem by vigilant meerkat -- 45
18 Welcome aboard Skipper by Jeffersonian Democrat -- 44
19 Please don't troll rate me by DivaBabe -- 43
20 Welcome, Sir, and thank you by emmasnacker -- 41
21 He has been outed too by trifecta -- 41
22 It's bigger then that by zic -- 41
23 Welcome! by nio -- 40
24 "Those who forget history are condemned to... by wonkydonkey -- 40
25 Lawrence O'Donnell by trifecta -- 40
26 I will NOT!.....It was reported exactly that way by JellyPuddin -- 39
27 Welcome Captain Parrott by otto -- 38
28 No FP except Bushco by blue jersey mom -- 38
29 It's selling...... by kestrel9000 -- 37
30 I'm teaching... by BarbinMD -- 37
With tip jars
1 Tip jar by occams hatchet -- 221
2 I am interested in your responses by teacherken -- 180
3 Another Saturday Morning Serving by TerranceDC -- 142
4 I saw a big smile on Bash's face...like she had by JellyPuddin -- 141
5 thanks by MadAsHellMaddie -- 109
6 Tip Jar - October 7 by Jerome a Paris -- 105
7 Ralph has helped organize vets for Jim Webb by teacherken -- 104
8 I'm non-violent, I swear I am, but... by BarbinMD -- 91
9 He's a disbarred lawyer ... by Meteor Blades -- 82
10 That's what Phelps wants. by Bob Love -- 69
11 Tip Jar by Elizabeth D -- 66
12 The Republicans call them "leaks" by inclusiveheart -- 61
13 I didn't mean to ... by Patrick Kennedy -- 60
14 CAPTAIN, you served, on naval ships during armed by testvet6778 -- 58
15 I received some bad news on Thursday by Coldblue Steele -- 57
16 Thanks (n/t) by AaronBa -- 55
17 my FP by OrangeClouds115 -- 55
18 Without a free press... by DrWolfy -- 52
19 in open thread drdemocrat says by jerseyjoew -- 50
20 Warm up the bulldozers by Dallasdoc -- 50
21 . by kestrel9000 -- 50
22 Roger that - by occams hatchet -- 49
23 I have the most wonderful Fucking Problem by Mrs Pastor -- 48
24 Iraq will be studied 100 years from now... by Shockwave -- 47
25 And for reasons of Batshit Craziness by bluerevolt -- 45
26 My Fucking Problem by vigilant meerkat -- 45
27 Welcome aboard Skipper by Jeffersonian Democrat -- 44
28 Please don't troll rate me by DivaBabe -- 43
29 So, what do you have by Frankenoid -- 42
30 He has been outed too by trifecta -- 41
And that's all for Saturday!
If you find good comments during the day and would like to see them included, send them to topcomments at gmail dot com!