Dear Greg:
Well, at least we didn’t have to listen to Fleetwood Mac. Remember the big celebration back in 1992, when your guys Bill and Al promised the most ethical administration in history? They kept playing “Don’t Stop Thinkin’ About Tomorrow,” as the adoring crowd clamored to touch the hands of the winners. I’ll always remember the Secret Service agents holding Al Gore by the seat of his pants to keep him from falling off the stage and into the mosh pit, as he allowed the masses to touch his hands.
By comparison, Tuesday night’s festivities were downright dignified, with classical music and a speech by President-elect Barack Obama that was inspirational. As you can see, I’m taking the advice of my favorite bluegrass song, and doing my best to “Keep on the Sunny Side of Life” these days.
Come Jan. 20, Barack Obama will be my president, too, Greg, and I intend to give him the benefit of the doubt, at least for a while. And I’ll bet you a six-pack of green-bottle beer that in the years to come, he gets less trouble from guys like me than from his own left wing.
Meanwhile, at our house, we’re rethinking everything. I needed a dishwasher the other day for our fixer-upper house, and was planning to buy a used one and put it in myself. But then I decided I was just being frugal again, and saving money just makes you selfish. So we bought a new one and had it installed, spreading the money around. And we’re thinking about replacing the flamboyant beige minivan, and charging it.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. And let me tell you, Greg, we’re in Rome now.
I always thought that saving money to prepare for retirement and that taking care of your family so it wasn’t a burden on society were good things. But I’ve come to realize that I was just being selfish. I’ll try to do better. As a semi-geezer, I might even apply for some government benefits. This old dog is going to learn new tricks.
The only thing that isn’t sunny about me lately is my feelings for my own party, which couldn’t organize a two-float parade, these days. Turns out most of the Republicans didn’t stand for anything at all, and that 1994 “revolution” that gave them control of Congress was just an opportunity for them to divide up the carcass, instead of the Democrats.
We got what we deserved, including this latest time in the wilderness. Before, I might have said the country might not deserve what it will get, but that was the Old Dave, and now I’ve seen the light and realize that change, whatever it may be, is exactly what we need.
I got a kick out of your explanation of the economic meltdown last week. The Old Dave would say there’s more to it than just Phil Graham, but I’m no fool. I know a raging torrent when I see one, so I’ll shut my mouth about Barney Frank and Chris Dodd.
I’m so sunny I can hardly stand it,
old pal,
Red State Dave [email protected]
Dear Dave:
You know, I got so mad at CNN at the end of the campaign that I swore them off for two weeks (I gave them a reprieve election night). They’re still in the punishment phase, so I’ve missed out on Wolf Blitzer talking about “President, uh, elect, uh, Obama’s rapid moves to, uh, put, uh, transition team in place,
uh.” I’m boycotting CNN because of the network’s treatment of New Jersey’s own Bruce Springsteen. I’d waited all through the campaign to see Springsteen’s mini-concert to introduce Obama at one of his speeches, and then there he was. But just as he was finishing his introduction before going into his first song, the stupid network cut to commercial and didn’t come back until The Boss was almost finished with
his set. Uncool, dudes.
Still, while the Obama campaign did spare us “Thinkin’ About Tomorrow,” their overall choice of music to set the tone for the campaign was head and shoulders above the Geezer’s. McCain, you’ll remember, seemed to steal all his music, and the people who owned that music were not too happy about it. Jackson Browne sued the GOP and McCain for using his songs. Jon Bon Jovi told the campaign to quit using his songs, as did John Mellencamp. Heck, even the Foo Fighters, who I’ve never listened to but are fairly popular with younger audiences, rapped Mac’s knuckles for using their song “My Hero” without permission. It says a lot about John McCain’s chances that he had to swipe his best songs. And I gotta tell you, Sarah Palin’s theme song, “Barracuda” by Heart, was just plain creepy.
Obama, on the other hand, had all the hot tunes. Not only did Springsteen introduce him at several concerts, he’s so ecstatic that rumor has it the album he’ll release next year has songs celebrating Obama’s victory. And Obama had a lot more musical heavyweights his corner. He had Bob Dylan, Elton John (knowing how big a fan of Elton John your wife is, it was a mystery to me she didn’t support Obama), Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige and more.
So when it came to music, Barack Obama rocked this campaign like he rocked the vote.
Not to change the subject, but since we’ve been writing this column, I’ve heard from a lot of readers, as have you. Some of those comments have been nice, but I’ve noticed the really nasty ones usually come from Republicans. In the last few weeks, I’ve been called a socialist, a communist, a secular humanist (wow, that hurt), a liberal ass, and a few things I can’t print in the paper but rhyme with stick, bromo and tag it (the writer misspelled the insult, of course).
I imagine I’ll continue getting those messages. Our e-mail addresses are included with this column, after all. But now that we know there are so few Rabid Republicans out there (present company excluded), I just don’t have to listen to them anymore, because they’re irrelevant. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, [email protected] (I’ve noticed these people never sign their names).
Your happy, happy friend,
Blue State Greg [email protected]