I've probably followed this election more closely than any other in my life. There's never been anything this close, nor anything this dirty that I've seen.

Stephen: You once asked whether we would fall in step with whoever was elected and accept the person as president. I've always honored the office of president, as I was taught to do, and I would never even think of protesting to the point of violence. However, I do sense that I will become more proactive in promoting the liberal philosophy on the internet [in my own way....meaning I won't link up with folks with which I disagree or feel out there], but will throw my support to those I feel are presenting views similar to mine.

I don't think I would have been moved in this way had this election turned out differently, or been handled differently.

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2000

Answers

Oh dear. Now she's really, really, really mad.

Proactive is cool. We all should be. Still, how you gonna be effectively proactive by cocooning with cronies? Stay in the fray, please. Not much fertile ground around here or Unk's for converts but would miss you. Won't be mean, honest.

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2000

Carlos:

LOL. You misunderstood. When I mentioned the folks who were really out there I was NOT referencing the folks on the fora I already visit, although I admit that the definition fits many. I was thinking about LIBERALS. There are kooks at EVERY end of the spectrum, ya know.

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2000

Anita,

I'm not sure "fall in step" is what I had in mind. The right to freedom of conscience, and the attendant right to disagree with a government that doesn't act as you think it should, is as American as n'apple pie with ice cream on it.

(Vanilla, of course. :)

Actually, this election has charged a lot of people up. Provided we can find common ground and compromise on the important issues, it's actually a GOOD thing. For exampe, I might vote conservative because I support things like gun rights and tax cuts, but at the same time, I'm NOT happy about the merger mania that has infested Big Business for the past decade or so. The anti-trust laws need to be dusted off (or even strengthened) and applied to rein some of this in.

Have at it, girl. I'll even recommend a good painter for that sandwich sign that you'll wear when you go protestin'. :)

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2000

A funny thing happened on my way to "centrism".....

I found I still have a lot of liberal sympathies (a lot MORE than I realized). Seeing what I feel has been a great disconnect in some "right-leaning" minds has brought this to the forefront for me. It's even worse when I speak with people IRL (which, BTW, I NEVER used to do; no religion, no politics, no money....all out the window this year).

Count me in, 'Nita. Gotta go with my conscience on this one (as I do with every other "one").

(And FWIW, I don't AT ALL like feeling that Bush won't be "my President" for the next four years. It's not even "sweet revenge" to think it, nevermind say it; it frankly, well, sucks. Yes, I respect the office, the position, even the man in a lot of ways, but it's those highly questionable [in my eyes] people with whom he's surrounded himself that are my main reasons.)

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2000

Have at it, girl. I'll even recommend a good painter for that sandwich sign that you'll wear when you go protestin'. :)

My intent is something a LOT more low-profile this time. When I was married, Internal Affairs did their normal investigation when my then husband applied for a job. They said, "YOU check out O.K., but we have a HUGE file on your wife." I'm hoping that file has been expunged, and I have no desire to start a new one. My wild oats look more like shredded wheat these days, ya know.

Patricia: I'll be making some inquiries in the next week or so [probably right after finals.] I hate to burst into song, but there's one from West Side Story that comes to mind..."There's a place for us....SOMEWHERE a place for us."

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2000

Thank you for the lists, Patricia.

It's comforting to me to know that I'm not really an oasis in a desert and I'll, definitely, be joining these folks to ensure that elections are clean from now on.

There's a sense of relief that goes along with this, in that I don't think the folks who post to THIS forum or Uncensored are BAD. It will be interesting to watch progress unfold, and I'm pleased that I have the opportunity to continue a dialogue on subjects other than politics, knowing that my opinions in that venue are heard elsewhere.

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2000