no but really, it’s a problem
Felix Gilman • December 1st, 2008 @ 10:05 am • Uncategorized
Oh god what is there to blog about now that the election’s over?
What else is there to have opinions about, other than politics? I’ve forgotten. I haven’t had an opinion on anything since the morning of November 5th.
December 1, 2008 at 10:49 am
Somehow, all of us over-intellectualized, bleeding-heart-liberal, pinko-commie-types are going to face the fact that deep, deep, deep inside, we didn’t think the good guys stood a snowflake’s chance in hades, and we never made room for the possibility that, as Americans, we have a long, proud tradition of a healthy skepticism of our leaders, and at some point, we’re all going to be deeply, deeply annoyed at the guy we worked so hard to elect. Yesterday, my husband and I removed the the very awesome Hope print from our living room. At some point, it just became a little too “Our Dear Leader”-ish. The question is, what do we do with it now? The playroom? No, then I’d feel like I was indoctrinating the children and not allowing them to make their own political decisions (though, I’m proud to say that my four year old was totally in the tank for Obama from the beginning). We could put it in the stairway, but then I’d feel like I was paying homage as I was walking out the door. My husband shrugged and said, “We could always hang it in the bedroom.” After struggling to regain my composure, I said, “Honey, we’ve both agitated for years to keep the government out of people’s bedrooms. And anyway, pictures of presidents should not be anywhere that anyone is having sex. It’s ookey.” I could tell he was about to make a comment about the living room, so I had to quick change the subject to fresh baked butterscotch cookies, which were, by the way, delicious.
But now I’m curious – what is everyone doing with their very awesome, artsy-fartsy obama prints? Where does the self-respecting radical hang the likeness of the guy they campaigned for, now that their guy has won? Are we all now just a bunch of fat, complacent establishment-types?
December 1, 2008 at 11:08 am
Surely you have an opinion on whether or not Barack is really as black and liberal as he could be? Or on whether he should have saved us all already in spite of not being voted in yet. You must have some kind of unrealistic dreams that have been shattered on the anvil of reality that you’re holding him personally responsible for.
I for one didn’t sleep that well last night and am crushed that he not only failed to prevent that but worse hasn’t even issued an apology today.
December 1, 2008 at 11:54 am
now that you mention it, it has gotten quite a bit colder since he got elected, and it gets dark earlier in the evenings, too
not a promising start, Barack, not promising
December 1, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Kelly: that’s an interesting question. I don’t think there’s ever been an American campaign with the kind of graphic design qualities Obama’s had — the kind where you could imagine keeping the posters because you like the posters. “I like Ike” buttons & etc could survive only as nostalgia, kitsch.
I suggest you put it in storage for a few years, maybe you’ll be able to pass it off as intriguingly ironic and double-edged by then.
December 1, 2008 at 12:19 pm
You’re right! I expected him to tame the sun and harness it for the benefit of his supporters, but he seems to be edging us towards the cold death of life. The republicans were right all along, and I scoffed at them as lunatics.
December 1, 2008 at 12:47 pm
I find that wearing my Obama t-shirt (this one: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15526426 ) keeps those bad dreams away and makes the sun rise sooner. Benedict, you obviously don’t have enough Hope. Perhaps you can get Kelly to loan you her artwork until she and her husband find a suitable location for it?
December 1, 2008 at 12:52 pm
I am intrigued by the sun rising earlier phenomenon due to Obama jammies, as I am in cold, wintery Minnesota and it is freaking dark around here. However, Obama t-shirt as slumber wear concept raises a presidential etiquette question: is it appropriate to place the likeness of one’s leader on the on the garment under which one does not typically wear a bra? Again with the ookey.
Perhaps I should consult with Miss Manners on that one. I’m sure she’ll know.
December 1, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Carrie, is it possible that the sun is not rising earlier but rather that you are sleeping later due to super comfy pyjamas?
Random question: pyjamas or pajamas? Apparently one of these is the “american” spelling …but not the one I use. Does anyone else (besides Felix) use the y?
December 1, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Here is a nice alternative Obama image, if you feel like a change from hope.
December 1, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Few things are funnier that right-wingers freaking out. Its so satisfying!
Kelly, I’m decorating my lab-book with Obama propaganda. That way I have it as memorabilia, but in four years when he is a Terrible Disappointment or people accuse me of being a hack I can make the excuse that it was a different time back then.
December 1, 2008 at 6:19 pm
I’m still waiting for Obama to overhaul No Child Left Behind. If he doesn’t and soon, let’s just say my usual snarky teacher cynicism will come roaring back and then I’ll have to prostrate myself before Brian Moore and beg his forgiveness for not voting Socialist this past election.
December 1, 2008 at 11:37 pm
You know, it will be interesting to see what exactly the Obama administration does with that wretched bit of kid-hating, teacher-hating, let’s-ruin-the-schools-then-blame-the-schools disaster that is NCLB (and by the way, anyone who thinks it’s a good idea to make Kindergarteners do bubble tests is due for an eternity of teeth gnashing in the farther reaches of hell). Being a Minnesotan, I’m well aware that Democrats can do just as much damage to a perfectly good state school network when left to their own devices, so originally I wasn’t holding out a whole lot of hope – and I say that as a card carrying democrat from my days in the womb. I like the DFL (and especially around here, where we are very open about our Farmer and Labor roots) and have gotten myself arrested more than once agitating for progressive causes (often in the company of nuns, which is, of course, another story). Still they did a craptacular job on our own version of “school reform”, which led to myself and a bunch of other teachers sending out report cards to a bunch of legislators, and we did not grade on a curve. The only time I handed out more F’s was on a grammar pop quiz.
I will say this though: I think it’s a good thing to have a professor in the oval office – particularly a constitutional scholar. After all the shenanegans foisted on our constitution by the crooks we have running the show currently. If he can stop the executive branch from continuing its current status quo of BREAKING THE LAW EVERY DAY, well I think that’ll be an improvement, and NCLB will just have to wait. And I’ll tell you, it hurts to say that – hell, I’ve got three little kids in elementary school and preschool. But things are so bad that I’m willing to say that it’s all right if things suck for my kids a bit longer because this country is beyond broken, and you can’t fix a schoolhouse in the middle of a tsunami – or some other more apt metaphor.
December 2, 2008 at 9:14 am
After Bush it’ll be nice just having someone who can tie their own shoelaces in the oval office. He’s left the bar pretty low.
December 2, 2008 at 6:15 pm
F#*@ yeah. But wait, isn’t that just “the soft tyranny of low expectations” that he went on and on about. Dear god, I am so excited to never have to think about that man again.
December 3, 2008 at 2:30 pm
It is in fact possible that I am sleeping later due to comfy nightwear. That and unemployment. But I just know things will turn around for me right around January 20th!
We are a “pyjama” household.