Cheer Me Up.
I'm demoralized.
Work has been crushingly busy. I've been getting most of my news in soundbites and headlines. I imagine I'm getting the news that most people see, not the politically obsessed like all of us. That news is bad, bad, bad. What should be a great week for Romney has been one of the worst, thanks to the media. Generally speaking, I agree with Rob Long -- quit whining about media bias and deal with it. After this week, though, I want to take a baseball bat to most media outlets. And frankly, I don't know what to do about it. 98% of the people I encounter on a daily basis aren't old enough to vote, even if I could justify proselytizing on the job. Persuading people on the internet is the punchline to a bad joke. I just have to endure this endless parade of lies, straw men, and twisted narratives. Drusus Agonistes, indeed.
I'll still pull the lever, a meaningless gesture in my red, red state. Five cents, psychiatric help for this Charlie Brown. (Not really.)
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Comments:
Mar '11
Re: Cheer Me Up.
@Doc - I've bought signs, I've bought stickers, I've bought the shirt, I've donated a lot. Believe me I'm as in it as I can be. I'd prosletize at work if I wasn't an employer.
Jun '12
Re: Cheer Me Up.
I hope you are right Doc. I could have written Drusus' post. I stayed optimistic in 2008 and bought all the shirts/stickers etc. I know that won't work for me this time. I hope you and Paul Rahe, et al. are right. Probably th ebest news I've heard is that electoral college poll that's right since 1980 is predictin a huge Romney win. Keep hope alive!
Aug '10
Re: Cheer Me Up.
Doc, I so hope you are right. Thx for the needed shot of optimism. (no pun intended)
Nov '11
Re: Cheer Me Up.
This is general advice:
Edited on September 20, 2012 at 4:00pmNov '11
Re: Cheer Me Up.
Cont'd
Edited on September 20, 2012 at 3:59pmJun '12
Re: Cheer Me Up.
As far as a single v ote not meaning much, that is not true, it always matters, and in this election, we need Romney to win, not just in the electoral college but also in the popular vote, avoiding the chance of a constitutional crisis caused by leftists and their supporting lawyers.
Nov '11
Re: Cheer Me Up.
Here's three things:
1. The national popular vote polls are about even.
2. It's Sept 20th. Lots of things can happen between now and November 6th.
3. Even of Obama wins, the sky will not fall, civilization will not end, America will not crumble into the sea. Life will go on.
3b. Second term presidents are always weaker, so Obama can do less harm.
3c. And he's really bad at being president, and he ain't gettin' any better, so that means he can do less harm than someone who is good at the job.
Mar '11
Re: Cheer Me Up.
98% of the people I know aren't smart enough to vote. But I know mostly MBAs so my data is skewed.
But on the bright side, Obama will win this election. Obama is such a dud he'll finally kill off the socialism that won't kill you but does kill nations. Future generations will grow up laughing at the notion that our most incapable and corrupt citizens should be put in charge of running the daily lives of 300 million people spread over 3.8 million square miles.
The future's so bright....
Jul '10
Re: Cheer Me Up.
A poll by the WashPo showed that 59% dislike political pundits compared to 21% who look on them favorably. It is not difficult to infer that they are tuning out politics as so much white noise at this point . The Romney-is-so-over message the MSM court eunuchs are pushing mostly falls on deaf ears. Therefore, be of good cheer.
Jul '11
Re: Cheer Me Up.
Drusus:
As Gandhi would say, be change you want to see - Cheer others Up! That will cheer you up - guaranteed.
Take a long view of life. Trends tend to be cyclical. One sure way to defeat socialism is to implement it, after all. Cause we all know it will fail.
And if all fails, watch Peter Diamandis:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BltRufe5kkI
Jun '12
Re: Cheer Me Up.
Next 4 years of Obama is not just 4 years. He has the permanent powers to manipulate SCOTUS. USA will no longer be a Superpower and definitely there will be a substantial drop in standard of living and National Security. Anyone who thinks that he cannot do much more harm is myopic. BUT, we must have faith in Democracy and Freedom.
Re: Cheer Me Up.
I completely agree with complaints about buying into the liberal media narrative -- particularly on idiotic issues such as this 47% bullhockey -- instead of advocating for issues of actual importance.
However, I also think it's important that those on the right care more about advancing conservatism than partisanship. The GOP knows it can use and abuse those on the right and count on them to vote. When they are in power, they don't govern like conservatives. This is a long ball game.
Anyway, for one explanation of why one magazine criticizes Romney, read this from The American Conservative.
Mar '11
Re: Cheer Me Up.
My long term faith is solid as it is not grounded on anything here on Earth, but folks here shouldn't kid themselves: Obama for another 4 years will be the end of the Republic. He already bypasses Congress and the Courts, why should anyone here believe that he'll be constrained by anything over the next 4, 6, 20 years? He passes laws by decree, nullifies laws by decree, starts wars by decree, attempts to enforce treaties by decree, and Congress has done nothing to stop, and much to abet (Libya was a betrayal first by Barry, Second by Congress). Obamacare and DoddFrankenstein give federal agencies the power to levy new taxes outside of Congress.
And historically, Socialism may continually fail, but rarely does a society go back to capitalism after such a failure without outside help and pressure (from the USA). Usually they go from one tyrany to another, always with another scapegoat and more "prosperity around the corner" promises.
So we doubters would like some cheer here - how will Mitt turn things around?
Apr '11
Re: Cheer Me Up.
First of all, step away and get some rest. Second, keep coming here. It's what I do when I'm close to the ledge, which directly correlates to how tired and busy I am. Also, meet regularly with your conservative friends.
First post for me here -- Hi everyone! Love it here and think it is a funny, thoughtful group. I haven't done my own post because I don't think I can live up to the cleverness and thoughtfulness of you all. But, if I get any more frustrated, you just might hear from me. You have been warned! :)
Apr '12
Re: Cheer Me Up.
Here is Hugh Hewitt's stream (I think Mr. Lileks does an interview today?)
It's down right now, but Townhall Radio's stream is here.
Here's the podcast listing for Dark, Secret Place-- which is a very popular radio show about international matters focusing on the Military and, of course these days, the War on Terror. I find it encouraging that they find it effective enough to give it a good spot and have the guy do the show from flipping Washington! (up in the Seattle area; Bryan Suits had a wonderful morning show that died when KVI went oldies for a few years)
For something totally different, here's a 1940s radio station in the UK. It's pretty awesome when they do WWII news clips.
Sep '12
Re: Cheer Me Up.
I've got a good word for you, Drusus.
I peek in on the Sunday news show videos through Real Clear Politics. Over the last 10 months I've noticed that conservatives have been scoring points at will while liberals have been floundering. Just the reverse was true during the final 10 months of Bush's presidency, and it carried over into the 2008 election up and down every ballot.
I realized what this awesome, momentum-lending force was the other day while watching Ambassador Rice spin the embassy attacks: Truth had become emotion immovable by spin. During Bush's last 10 months, people were tired of war abroad, tired of political war at home, and worried about the economy. And with very good reason - conditions were dire, bad news compounded daily, and there was nothing Republicans could say to spin it positive. Conditions are precisely the same now and have been for the past 2 years, but worse, Obama promised to make people feel otherwise. Instead it's déjà vu all over again, but this time it's the Democrats' turn to suffer a wipe-out.
So take heart, knowing the MSM can't resist truth made emotion.
Edited on September 20, 2012 at 5:18pmJul '11
Re: Cheer Me Up.
lone conservative: First of all, step away and get some rest. Second, keep coming here. It's what I do when I'm close to the ledge, which directly correlates to how tired and busy I am. Also, meet regularly with your conservative friends.
First post for me here -- Hi everyone! Love it here and think it is a funny, thoughtful group. I haven't done my own post because I don't think I can live up to the cleverness and thoughtfulness of you all. But, if I get any more frustrated, you just might hear from me. You have been warned! :) · 10 minutes ago
Hello. Do speak up and have fun.
Mar '12
Re: Cheer Me Up.
Tell me not in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou are, to dust thou returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each tomorrow
Find us farther than today.
In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act, - act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o'erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sand of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us then be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
by H W Longfellow
May '11
Re: Cheer Me Up.
Here's a great analysis of why Romney will win by Sean Trende at Real Clear Politics. (The day before he did an analysis of why Obama will win, but this one is far more persuasive and cheered me up.)
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/09/20/state_of_the_race_part_2_why_romney_wins_115513.html
And here's a really interesting analysis by a polling blogger on the GOP voter ID surge this year and how it's not in current polling samples. (Rush even referenced it.) This one really cheered me up.
http://datechguyblog.com/2012/09/17/demoralized-as-hell-the-poll-the-media-isnt-talking-about-edition/
And be relieved that you're busy at work. Beyond the fact that you're working -- of course -- it keeps you from checking on polls every five minutes like I've been doing. Election season is like heroin! (Probably as unhealthy and as time-consuming.)
Edited on September 20, 2012 at 5:54pmAug '10
Re: Cheer Me Up.
KITTENS!!!!!!