Mexico is open.

As is Cuba.

I wish some sort of deportation was mandatory whenever anyone of any political persuasion says, "Why if X is elected, I'm moving to Y."

Frankly, if the hard left wants to relocate to the socialist utopia to the north, I'm 110% for it. Means less of them to support with my taxes.

I offered to vote for Vicente Fox at work yesterday, my co-workers are mainly Mexican immigrants who were very anti Bush. I think just about any Socialist Caribbean Paradise would be a good place for them. Oh by the way thanks for mentioning the wacky numbers on Newsday last night. They reported 103% of precincts reporting immediately after you said it on the air.

I'm just writing in to concede.

Oh, and I agree--anyone on the left who wants to leave the country because we lost a couple of elections should go, now, and not come back.

As for me, I'm no less concerned--but that's life in a democracy. I love my country, and I wouldn't leave it at gunpoint--and, incidentally, I would hope none of you would want me to leave. The whole "go to Canada" thing is so played.

Oh well. Back to the drawing board.....

Btw, and I mean this: I don't think you guys are right, but you won fairly.

And you did what must be done in a democracy: you convinced more people that you were right than we did.

Right or not, we Democrats got too focused on beating Bush, and not focused enough on actually governing.

You won. You deserved to win.

Now that you have your victory, though: don't screw it up.

Jeff,
"Don't screw it up" while coming from you, an individual democrat, gives me serious concern that the attitude of "we lost so we're not going to help....don't screw it up" is just what this country does not need. Instead of the childish "I can't have my way so I'm taking my toys and going home," this country needs a democrat mindset of "well that sucked for us, but we're going to pitch in, make this thing work, and do everything in our power to make sure we are victorious in all that we attempt and....that WE don't screw it up!"

That kind of grass roots movement could reinvent the democratic party and perhaps make it more viable (outside of the urban areas!).

I just moseyed over to check out Kos, where I discovered that there is a "neoconservative project"! Who knew? And why haven't I been invited to participate?

Hey Fingers-
I don't know if you are familiar with the way this government works, but Jeff is completely right. How can a democrat make or enforce decisions in a totally Republican run government??? Why should any democrat support the actions of this government when they are totally immoral and completely self serving? I find it very ironic that the middle of America (who's average household income is about $40K) supports the richest 1% of this country. Have they thanked you for all the money you've given them?
Signed - a Dixie Chicks fan

This is what I get for trying to be gracious....

We on the left have our own fish to fry. And don't worry--if you bother to read my blog, I'm taking my fellow lefties to task.

But this is a blog for those on the right. You won. You can't run against us anymore. You're not iconoclasts anymore. You are the system. It's your baby now. And again, for the good of all of us: don't screw it up.

I sense some misunderstanding of my post...?

...Ah, but there is working as the minority to ensure this great country holds true to our beliefs in freedom and independence, acting as watchdogs to ensure the majority does not lose sight of our noble purpose. Then there is stubborn, breath-holding, obstructionism.
Jeff, I don't know you from Adam and wouldn't presume to associate your initial post with the former, merely attempting to state the fact that without a whole lot of the later our country will continue the status quo while ignoring its true potential.
For example: The very same moderate independents who voted for "W" this election are the very people that will not accept the abandonment of their fellow (socially poorer) Americans by any government they elect and the Republicans know that. I get a sense though that many on the left are of the opinion that we will return to the U.S. of pre-child labor laws.
It just isn't so and in the end, by rooting out and destroying the terrorists while allowing the economy to grow, I believe all will be better off not just the richest 1%. The sense of individual's despair I see in the media, people making statements about leaving the country, etc. are the individuals I feel will, indeed, sign on as the status quo supporting obstructionists. I can only hope they are in the minority of the minority and that common ground will in fact carry us to the bright future our potential as THE world's super power holds.
In the end, the 'system' could be seen as belonging to the majority party, but to just give up so one can point and blame, while probably quite self-satisfying, cheats our country.

Good luck with the reorganization of your party. I look forward to hearing how it is going! And I say that in all sincerity as competition and diversity of ideas is what makes us great.

Dee,

Hmmmm. Yes I'm familiar with how our government works. I'm familiar with the temptation the Republicans will have to feed the democrats a dog-sh*t sandwich and make them eat it.
I'm also familiar with getting things done when I'm not the man in charge. It is a little harder, but many times results in a better product because I couldn't just impose my, far from omnipotent, individual will upon everyone, I had to get buy in. It's not impossible it just takes a little tact.

"Immoral and self-serving" in what ways? Do you mean 'self-serving' to our own country vice, say, France or to the incredibly corrupt U.N.? 'Immoral' like calling someone a liar, (of course never to his face) and comparing him to Hitler? Or, is it 'immoral and self-serving' because certain illusions like the viability of the current Social Security structure and the affordability of medical care in our lawsuit-run-amok country are being shattered by realists who, though these problems date back to the 70's, finally have the guts to take a stand against the status quo (from both parties I might add) that allowed these 'cans' to be kicked so far down the road they are not salvagable in their current form?
Maybe the Dixie Chicks will write one about a politician who is willing to let actions speak louder than words. Someone who instead of telling people what they want to hear has the guts to stand up and say "people this is FUBAR and while you may not like my fix, it is better than that hollow-promise when it comes to needing a doctor or retiring to nothing because the bankrupt system was held on to for so long we couldn't afford to fix it." Or maybe they'll write one about what a great strategy it is to take the offensive overseas instead of the defensive in the streets of our cities--I'm sure the Israelis could tell them how fun that is!

Nah, that would mean they'd have to get it.

$40K (and I've spent a good amount of time there) in a stable home with affordable health care, inflation under control, bearable interest rates on affordable housing, permanent tax cuts, and a retirement system that actually has money in it, is a decent wage in middle america even if it doesn't seem like much in New York city (I guess substitute any city here)--not everyone feels the need to drive a Lexus! Fix the massive drains on that $40K and people could even save money--unless they buy in to the Madison Avenue "you gotta have this, just buy it with your credit card" hype. Did my income tax go to a top 1%-er? Maybe it did if his job title was Senator!

Sorry Mitch. I never thought I would oppine so much on your site!

Fingers-

Self serving is defined as what's best for Bush and his administration rather than what's best for America- or in that regards the world. (As the world leader we do need to be conscious about our actions as they affect the world). Immoral is the lack of ethics used to obtain his self serving needs. Two words- Enron and Halliburton. Do you question at all the financial motives that are driving his actions? You refer to social security which granted is a mess and I doubt this administation will fix (if they do I'll buy you a beer)- but how about also looking at all the jobs that were lost, private bankrupticies, forclosures, and the biggest drop in the US stock market under his 1st term. Furthermore, he's put this country in debt that will last generations, and this number will rise soon with his upcoming request for an additional $75 billion for Iraq. Beyond the financial spectrum, his self-serving tactics can also be seen in his environmental practices. He's completely reversed many of the clean air acts. The US has been removed from the Human Rights Commission and the World Court of Law. I can only imagine what more he's (or we've) got coming.

So how did you get things done when you weren't the man in charge? During these situations did everything about you completely and totally disagree with the ethics of "your leader"? I don't see how the 55million Kerry supporters can overcome this to work with him when the country is so deeply polarized. Personally I think we should form two countries.

Oh one other thought, the financial discussion clearly isn't an issue for middle America, as they stated the #1 reason for re-electing Bush was because of his 'morals'. What's moral about a war, what's moral about imposing your religious beliefs on others, what's moral about denying two people of the same sex who love each other to live equal to the rest of the country (no I'm not gay but I would never ask someone to live by what I thought was right). This country was founded under the belief of separating the two ideologies of church and state. This administration and the country is forgetting that.

Dee

sorry it took so long to respond. Just returned from another trip directed by a boss I don't agree with on many fundamental issues! In the end though, it was about keeping our country safe.

Your arguments remind me of the incoherent jabbing during the campaign. Picking the low hanging fruit, oranges, apples, cherries, etc. None the same, all trying to lead to a point, but unable to quite get there. Each one a valid and interesting questioning of someone's practices and procedures, but existing in a vacuum without the greater context of the 9/11 attacks and the GWOT.

I concede.

What tells you the difference between right and wrong. Religon can be used to do this. The Democratic voice of America has spoken.

Fingers,

I didn't think you'd respond, but I'm glad you did as it's the perfect showing of how the two parties DON'T work together. They disagree and rather than working together, one side (in this case yours) walks away saying "I give up, I can't work with these people". So with that in mind, I turn back to the original post and say to you- "Don't screw it up!"