A Preview of Things to Come? and "Democrazies"

In April, I published an article on Associated Content, "On Barack Obama's Blackness". It was rather measured and not intemperate. On November 6^th, "Anonymous" posted the following two comments on my article:

"Wow, this article is pretty racist. Oh well, people like that will get over it either before they die or after. Obama is President now anyway.....Whoo Hoo!!!"

and

"Or maybe I took it wrong. I re-read it. Sorry if I took it the wrong way at first."

Here is the comment I posted in reply: (I include it for the convenience of the reader.)

I think it is unfortunate when people "jump to conclusions" and start name-calling. I felt free to offer criticisms of Obama during the campaign, with posts and videos. One post had some people at Open Salon calling me names, including ad hominem attacks. As the election neared, I removed such posts and videos, since I felt the time for criticism was over, so I left only my positive or humorous(?) stuff out there.

I lose my temper, like everyone else, especially when a ditto-head responds with some idiotic argument. As for President-Elect Obama, I'm still not sure how he will govern. But it is such a relief to have the election over, with the likes of Elizabeth Dole defeated. I would post more stuff here, but I am constrained by their restrictions. Also, I still can't find out the results of their Political Haiku contest!

(end of my comment)

My reference to "Things to Come" in the title refers to the possibility that those of us who savor nuance, strive to be even-handed, like to expose hypocrisy wherever we see it and to puncture vanity when necessary - that we now are going to be stampeded back under the rocks from which we came by the "politically correct " posse.

Obama's election will have many positive effects, but I'm afraid it will not be able to cure the Internet's bi-polar virus.

And, in a related vein.

Democrazies

Here is the petition you are urged to sign at http://liebermanmustgo.com/ .

"We CANNOT tolerate a leader of the Senate Democratic Caucus who supports George Bush and McCain's War in Iraq. We CANNOT tolerate a Democratic chairman of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee who endorses and stumps for McCain. We call on the Senate Democratic Steering Committee to strip Joe Lieberman of his chairmanship and his leadership role."

This is preceded by the statement:

"Demand the Steering Committee remove Joe Lieberman's position within the Democratic Caucus in 2009."

These people are so busy foaming at the mouth that they can't even write plain English. Do they want Lieberman removed from the Caucus entirely or just as chairman of Homeland Security. What is his "leadership role", other than his chairmanship." He is not on the Steering Committee, according to them.

As for the petition itself, it is laughable. These people are clearly living in the past. The election campaign is over. Obama is President-Elect. He says he will be president of all the people, which includes Lieberman and McCain. The latter even referred to him as "My president" in his concession speech.

So this group who "cannot tolerate..." is indeed intolerant. And hypocritical as well. They refer to "George Bush and McCain's War." Let's see. Those voting for it included Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, and John Edwards, among others. (But not my Senator, Carl Levin, to his everlasting credit.)

This group also wants to disenfranchise the people of Connecticut, who re-elected Lieberman (running as an "Independent Democrat") in 2006. They seem indifferent to the following facts.

1) Lieberman has always been a hawk. When first elected in 1988, he was endorsed by none other than William F. Buckley. He defeated incumbent Republican Lowell Weicker, who was the dove in the race. (See my earlier article for details.)

2) On most matter, Lieberman votes as a liberal Democrat, much as Senator Henry (Scoop) Jackson did in days of yore.

3) If Lieberman hadn't caucused with the Democrats, they wouldn't have had a majority in the Senate the past two years, and they may still need him in the future to prevent filibusters.

Joe Lieberman is an honorable person, and he doesn't deserve to be dishonored in this way.

P.S. One "solution " would be for Obama to appoint Lieberman to the Cabinet as Secretary of Homeland Security. Now that would be an act of bipartisanship!