Why were we so complacent December 12th, 2000

[The Lone Liberal]

For nearly two and one-half years it has bothered me that we allowed a republican coup d'etat to take place without taking to the streets. I remember Liberman addressing us and saying something like “ we must accept the order of the Supreme Court and accept Bush as president.” Even then I expect a mass outpouring of dissent. Any other country the masses would have taken to the streets in protest. I cannot imagine something like that happening in France. There would have been a revolution. I know that we immediately started whispering our dissent, but we should have taken the fight to the streets. The question is why didn’t we, before it was to late.

[Cha]

1. I was fuming in my bedroom!

I thought I was alone!

[greatauntoftriplets]

2. I remember thinking on 12/12/00 that democracy had died.

Ironically, Chicago was dumped over the next couple of days with a 20-or-so-inch early-season snowstorm. In the middle of it, a friend aged 56 died during an angioplasty procedure. It was an extremely trying time in many ways -- getting to work through snow-choked streets that the city crews did a piss poor job of picking up, attending the wake and funeral, plus grieving over what had happened to this country. Plus, the triplets were newborns and I was spending as much time as possible with them and helping my niece as much as I could.

I thought it was quite ironic. It never rains but it pours.

[whathappened]

3. for me

i just set and was so sure we would prevail , i did'nt think in a million years it would go bad for gore , and after the horse was out of the correll , there was complete silents of the matter , i don't know what happened there , were we blinded by the right so bad we could'nt say anything , we were so in shock the words could'nt come out , our mouths were open but no sound was heard from us , so sorry this happened and wished we had it to do all over again and some day this will come out and the rest of the world will no we had been had

[MuseRider]

4. I can remember being almost

obscessive watching and reading and I was so angry. When it was going to the SCOTUS I was relieved, didn't think there was a chance in hell they would decide anything but recount the peoples votes. I was so stunned, so angry, so depressed and so ALONE! It wasn't until I found DU last September that I was able to finally realize it wasn't my problem. I had quietly seethed all that time. We should have been in the streets but you know, it was like we were all hit with a ball bat and were too stunned to actually believe it.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

5. I remember the Saturday before

When the SC stayed the recount. My husband and I were in the car returning from a local shopping center, and we looked at each other and said, "That's it!" We knew then what the decision would be.

I remember January 18, 2001. I was doing dishes when I suddenly developed palpitations, sweating and extreme weakness, all signs of panic attack. I NEVER have these! I was so upset thinking about what was going to happen. On Inauguration Day I burst into angry tears when I saw Al Gore and had to turn off the television. I was planning to go to DC to protest, but we had a sudden 6" of snow and couldn't get up our hill.

Despite being admitted to law school in April 2002 and starting school in August 2002, I can honestly say I haven't been truly happy for one day since December 12, 2000.

I am very happy to have found this site and others. I also felt very alone and helpless.

[MuseRider]

7. I was thinking about that very thing

today. I have been worried, frustrated and generally unhappy since then. I am happy in my life but this constant worry is so draining on all of us. You go gangbusters fighting it all then all of a sudden you have to stop and take a big, sad breath, then back to it. If they would only just do stupid and horrible things twice a week it would be nice but this daily barrage is so awful. Still we keep on. I knew he would do this, I knew they were bad. It is frightening to think how far they have gone.

[rabid_nerd]

6. I don't know.

I was a political novice living in Broward County Florida unable to vote because of a botched processing of my registration.

I was in shock.

I am now back in PA and the hell OUT of Florida, and about ready to smack Al along side the head and reminding him that he said he "heard us and will not forget".

If I was standing on the floor of the DNC Convention in Boston and nominations were open to the floor, I would nominate him.

If he won the nomination, then he'd be able to decline.

But damn it, he's our best experienced, smartest Democrat and we NEED that kind of experience in the WH. We can't afford to have one of these nine grow into the WH when they need to be able to fix things on the run.

I will continue to fight to nominate Al Gore.

His office said he's not running. They've said it since June. When I asked what he'd do if nominated, his office said "they cannot predict".

Well, I want to find out.

P.S. About him endorsing - he's as likely to wait until middle of next year before endorsing the apparent front-runner, or wait until the convention to endorse the nominee. Don't hold your breath that he'll endorse your person.

[MuseRider]

9. Ahhh, one of the many disenfranchised!

That must have been really rough. So far I think there are a few who could handle the job. I think they all know they will have to hit the ground running. I just hope it is not too late to turn all of this around. Even with the Bush* gang out they still own most of the world. Whoever gets the nomination will be tarred and feathered in the press daily. It will be a tough job.

[beanball]

8. That fraud in the oval office

is a disgrace to freedom loving people everywhere and we the feeble let those clowns on the supreme court select a moron to the highest position on the planet,history will judge us harshly for our inaction.

[dpbrown]

10. I was not complacent

I was on the streets a half dozen times between November and the SCOTUS overthrow of democracy in December.

I printed flyers, I painted my own posters, I researched Florida law, I was interviewed on TV, I motivated other people to protest.

I knew it would be this bad.

[Ramsey]

11. I was tearing up the place

I was so angry, as angry as I have ever been. But also as helpless. And those of you who know me know that I am a fireball. I get out there and I get things done. I felt totally helpless and frustrated that night. Why didn;t we atke to the streets? I don't know, what can one person do at a juncture like that? Most people didn't seem to care, didn't think there was a big difference between Bush and Gore. The apathy is the most frightening thing of all. Our own party let us down, kissed ass and walked away. Witness in retaliation the rise of Howard Dean and his ilk.

It was the night that this country lost my respect. It was the night I knew I could leave, if I had to. This country lost my loyalty that night because the highest and most respected body in the land betrayed the very foundations we were meant to represent.

It was the ultimate disillusionment, the ultimate betrayal. And as we all know it has continually worsened under this illegitimate regime. I am working hard to change things, for now. But if the people of this country are so deluded, or so enamored, of the current status quo that we get four more years of the Moron in Chief, then this is not the country I was taught to love and respect. And I will leave. I am dead serious. As far as I am concerned, this country needs to win me back, or it doesn't deserve my talents, my efforts, hell, even my tax dollars (of which I pay many).