Apocalypse Now? Or Never?

[Plaid Adder]

I will admit it. I am taking this Governor Schwarzenegger thing hard.

I have seen a lot of threads exhorting us to get on with it and get over it and it won't be that bad and there's no point in crying over spilled milk. Well, intellectually speaking I take the point, but there is no denying that the ascent of Governor Schwarzenegger just *feels* bad. Really bad. What is the point of getting up and going to work this morning if things like this are possible kind of bad.

But, I got up and went to work anyway, and as I sit here the thing that keeps repeating in my head is a little snippet from the opening monologue of Tony Kushner's play *Homebody/Kabul.* I saw this in a theater not too long ago and found it very interesting but very uneven. The most successful part, strangely, was the part that was least 'dramatic'--the first act, which is entirely taken up by the Homebody's hourlong monologue. The Homebody is a middle-aged wife and mother who has, by her own admission, gotten way too into reading, and as she starts talking about Afghanistan with the help of an outdated guidebook she travels over all kinds of other territory. In the middle of a peroration on world history she says that the thing you realize if you read enough history is that at all times, in all places, no matter where you are or what's going on, "the present has always been an awful place to be."

Her point is that after about a generation, all of a sudden things that seemed like signs of the apocalypse at the time start to make sense, and everything becomes more comprehensible and less terrifying. But while you're actually *in* the present, it's always awful. You don't know what it means or where it's headed or if there is even going to be a future.

For some reason I find that comforting today. Yes, the election of the Terminator as governor of our big electoral-college ace-in-the-hole does certainly look like a sign of the apocalypse. But then again, the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 had the same kind of end times feel to it. He was an actor too--and, like Arnold, not even a good one. He made a pleasant and genial front man--just like George Jr., apparently, does (to those Americans who can watch him without wanting to hurl). There are plenty of other actors who have made the transition--Fred Grandy went from The Love Boat to Congress, and the guy who played Cooter on *Dukes of Hazard* ran for some kind of state office in the late 1980s, although I can't remember whether he won. It is in some ways the natural result of a media culture. People spend more time in front of the TV than they do anywhere else. That's their home. Of course they trust it to take care of them.

It does seem to me, as I look back, as if the present has not always been *this* awful a place to be. But still: however bad it gets, the end doesn't really come. We are on the edge of the Apocalypse's event horizon; but we'll never really get to it, even though it seems that we're moving ever closer.

It seems weird, I guess, but somehow it makes me feel better to think about it that way: the present has *always* been awful. But there is always this future out there, that may be better or worse but will certainly be different. And sooner or later, we will get there.

Again, my condolences to everyone who worked on that election, and I hope that eventually we will look back on Governor Schwarzenegger's time in office and understand that it was just something we had to go through in order to get somewhere good.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[TNOE]

1. I got lambasted somewhat for this

not so long ago - but I have been very intrigued by this site:

http://www.goroadachi.com/etemenanki/

If this guy is right (???) and I certainly don't know that but the only good I can think about this election is that he says the rise of Schwarteneger may mean the fall of Bush. Last night after hearing Ah-nold had won - I dusted off my King James Version Bible and read Revelations 9:11 - where the antichrist is termed "the Destroyer". And as a side note - wasn't one of Ah'nold's movies "Conan the Destroyer" or was it just Conan, the barbarian or something like that? Anybody know?

And I found this fascinating:

I kind of hesitate to mention this but even Nostradamus' prophetic words appear to be supportive of the Arnie-'Antichrist' connection. Here is one of his quatrains often associated with the Antichrist, I-76:

The man will be called by a barbaric name
that three sisters will receive from destiny.
He will speak then to a great people in words and deeds,
more than any other man will have fame and renown.

To Schwarzenegger is certainly attached the 'barbaric' epithet, 'Terminator'/'Destroyer', which in the Book of Revelation 9:11 (yes, '9-11') relates to the Antichrist. So Line 1 of the quatrain fits well at least.

Lines 3 and 4 are rather generic but Line 2, 'that three sisters will receive from destiny', contains a significant 'hyperlink'. First, the three sisters of destiny is a clear reference to the three goddesses of fate called Norne in Norse mythology. As pointed out to me by a fellow thinker, reversing the name 'Norne' will give us 'Enron' - the force behind Arnie's political adventure! It was also pointed out that Enron's trademark featuring three distinctive columns (i.e. the big 'E') suggests the reverse-spelling of 'Norne' (three goddesses) is likely by design.



So the implication would be that Schwarzenegger is a man on a big mission facilitated by Enron. And the reversal of the spelling seems to allude to the anti-christic nature of his messianic destiny. All the indications are that Schwarzenegger is likely to be elected governor of California tomorrow (Oct. 7)... At least that should be the 'plan'.

It's interesting to note that the White House was given the deadline of Oct. 7 to turn over all documents related to the Wilson/CIA leak ('Treasongate') matter. Since the rise of Arnie and the fall of Bush/White House can be considered two sides of the same coin as discussed in the previous entry here on Oct. 1, this coincidence occurring on Oct. 7 cannot be more appropriate. And it can be inferred that Schwarzenegger's win tomorrow would signal a very serious problem coming for the Bush administration - potentially directly from those documents turned over to the White House counsel's office tomorrow. (On the other hand, if Arnie loses the election, that would be a good sign for the White House.)


I definitely realize this site is not for everyone - but I continue to find it fascinating.

[radwriter0555]

2. Get ready for President Schwartzenegger....

I'm so glad my plans for retiring to a nearby country south of here are engaged, on track and in the planning process.

[Plaid Adder]

3. Well, that is the one bright spot.

He wasn't born in the USA, so he's ineligible for the office of POTUS. They'd have to amend the constitution to run him.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[radwriter0555]

10. It's in the works actually.... read it and weep....

Amendment to let Arnold run for president

SALT LAKE CITY, July 15 (UPI) -- Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah is pushing a constitutional amendment that would allow his friend Arnold Schwarzenegger to run for the White House.

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20030715-043500-5589r.htm

Luckily Barney Frank is on the case... and argues for making it a 35 year eligibility...

[Swami Love]

4. Can't be president

He was not born in the US of A so he cannot be president. So this is as high as he'll get...

[Ripley]

5. You must have missed the legislation that Orrin Hatch, et al

have been bringing up lately. It is to change that provision.

[newyawker99]

17. Hi Swami Love!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Fish Eye]

9. are you serious about leaving the USA

just asking...curious

[radwriter0555]

11. Oh yeah. I've been saying "I TOLD YOU SO" since November 7, 2000

and on November 25th of that same year found my Utopia in Mexico, where I'll be going.

I warned everyone here that Davis would be recalled last spring and every one just called me names and laughed.

Everyone laughed when I said the rescue of little baby jessica from the hospital in iraq was a scam.

You all jumped my shit when I told you that the whole limbaugh scam last week was a ploy to get our attention off wilson gate.

Everyone said Ken Lay would go to jail. The statute of limitations is almost up. He'll never go.

Now good old arnie is going to dimiss the enron lawsuits.

The bush regime is too heinous, criminal and fetid. They're destroying my America, so I'll make my home in a country with a real president, in Mexico. And I'll keep saying "I told you so," I guess... what else is there to say? What else can we do? We can't beat liars, cheats and thieves with this amount of power.

[Fish Eye]

14. I hate to agree with the truth you

speak...our family will be moving a bit further south than Mexico but just the same we think the USA is a lost cause It has been hijacked by fuckers who do not give ashit for the ideals of the constitution....

it is either stay and fight or leave before the ship sinks.... we can't fight the power with the sysytem and there are to few "americans" willing to take up arms against those who have taken over the USA... not worth the fight ....all evil shit rots away eventually..

America is tuning into a twisted funadamentalist hell not unlike other theocratic states....freedom for those who agree with the leader all others are traitors...the writing is on the wall.....

[hippiegranny]

6. i am taking it hard too

although, what did we expect? i was home sick yesterday and had the rare misfortune to catch a grossly insidious piece of american culture, "entertainment tonight." if what i saw there was any indication, then ahnold the musclebound pig was basicly elected by e.t. and its ilk. between the coverage of the mb.p. and maria casting their votes, the coverage of maria and eunice smiling and waving and covering the mb.p.'s ass with a democratic flank, they never did manage to have time to mention anyone else who was running or anything that resembled reasoned discussion about the veracity of the recall. and this, i suppose, is where many americans get their knowledge of "politics." this was my first clue that the "election" was all but a foregone conclusion.

i'd love to be able to offer some words of encouragement, but i'm starting to think this is it. the endtimes. and i don't even believe in religion. i was recently treated to some insight by a very powerful psychic who told me that america had its time in the sun and it is about to end. the current events and the growing presence of beings with powerful negative energy will combine to bring us to our knees. i was hoping it would happen later rather than sooner, but i believe the cali freakshow is a sign, and it does not bode well for 2004; i'm afraid we're gonna get another four years of the bfee. and we're through if that happens. i am trying not to believe it, but the signs point in that direction.

[Homer12]

7. The Silver Lining

Prepare yourself for some good quotes from AS.

Could be non-stop laughter on the Daily Show.

[Adjoran]

8. Buck up, man!

It isn't like there aren't a lot of repub bozos who have won elections before. Apocalypse? Please!

Davis left the door open on this through arrogance and mismanagement. The pubs drove a Humvee through it. Let's have a reality check: just because a guy is a good political operator and puts a "D" by his name doesn't make him a good governor. If California had been governed by Diane Feinstein, this never would have happened.

Learn the lesson and move on. Plan to take back the statehouse and work toward the goal. Resolve that we need to recruit candidates for important offices who have demonstrated real effectiveness in other positions besides running campaigns.

Does anybody really think Ahnold is going to hit the ground running, solve all of California's problems, and carry the state for Bush next year? Don't be silly. He has even less going for him than Davis did in terms of experience and ability. It is a battle lost, not the war.

If we take defeat too personally, politics is the wrong field to dabble in. The '00 election was tough to take, but the party survived. Compared to that, this is just another bad day at the office.

The election that counts is only 13 months away. I can't afford to waste any time crying in my beer over Davis. Did that last night, today I am ready to pick the next President. I don't have time to examine the entrails of goats looking for omens.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[hunter]

13. Very nice, Plaid Adder. Thank you...

Once upon a time I was working on Jimmy Carter's re-election campaign (in a small way) and I was utterly devestated when Ronald Reagan won.

And then a few years later I saw President Reagan at a public event, and it was clear to me, and the reporters I was hanging out with, that the poor old fool didn't even know where the hell he was.

Reagan was looking around like "Huh???? Who are these people? Oh yeah, I have to say something. What???" until an "official White House source" whispered something into his ear, and Reagan started to cheerfully ramble on. The part of his brain that once enabled Reagan to recreate baseball games from stark wire copy was still working...

I think that one moment changed my view of politics forever.

Yes, Arnold Schwarzenegger is now the Governer of California, but behind the curtain he's just some decrepit old fart you'd tell your teenaged daughters to stay away from.

Hmmm, let's see, Arnold wears makeup, he lies about his height and his physical condition, and a 10k run would certainly kill him if, in some testosterone crazed haze, he tried to keep up with the younger guys.

Terminator, my ass. His body is fried.

I can respect Arnold as a human being, and maybe as a "successful" celebrity, but if he chooses to wallow with the pigs in the mud of politics, he can't complain if he gets dirty.

[Clete]

15. This doesn't make me feel good especially the

reference to Reagan, whose policies we are still suffering from today. Do you know that there were no homeless people before Reagan? There were poor people who lived in small residences or on the other hand hoboes and bums who wanted to live as they did, but there were no homeless families and working homeless, who became homeless because losing one paycheck or a job caused them to be tossed into the street.

Not only that mentally ill and marginally functional people not to mention old soldiers were thrown out into the street when funding was cut by the Jarvis ammendment, under another Republican coup. I don't feel good at all.

[Nay]

16. Exactly right, Clete. We DIDN'T survive Reagan.

That dotty old fool's policies, whether they came from him or not, started the devastation we see all around us. Those on this board who think Arnold will 'fail' because he is a know-nothing boob are refusing to see the truth -- he'll be a figurehead for MORE neocons and rich folks whom we will never meet and certainly have never elected. These shadowy figures will produce the propaganda, the money, and the hoopla that we are so familiar with in the Reagan and Bush admins., and this artful production, made for TV, will play for the masses continually until the 2004 election.

Arnold will be propped up and stage-managed (he is another actor, after all) to the best effect and will cause young moviegoers to register to vote for the first time in their lives. And they ain't gonna be voting for a Democrat. They will vote for the terminator.

By the way, everybody, even if Davis was hated (and he was), no one had to vote for Arnold. There were a gazillion people on the ballot, many quite qualified to govern, who were blown out of the water. Arnold has NAME RECOGNITION, and he will be using it in 2004 for his masters.