Is the absence of a negative the only positive?

[wakemewhenitsover]

Went to a dinner party last night, and we seven Dems and one Green pondered, in the aftermath of January 6th, what positives may result from this past election.

As we went around the table, sampling appetizers (great prosciutto and fig bruschetta), we realized that the only positives we could contemplate were the absences of negatives, in other words...

Kerry would not inherit a failed war.

Kerry would not inherit a shaky economy.

We would not be subjected to four years of relentless attacks on Kerry, and mockery of Teresa.

Can anyone think of a genuinely positive positive, as a way to uplift depressed post-election spirits?

[shraby]

1. There may be

some people wearing orange if the election gets investigated like it should.

[wakemewhenitsover]

13. Ironic that it's the color of the Florida state fruit...

[last1standing]

2. We've seen the re-birth of the Democratic party.

Under Howard Dean's Democracy for America. Of course this positive only works if enough dems actually see the benefits of real grass roots efforts.

[purduejake]

4. I don't think it's reborn yet.

There is a lot of work and such a large party takes a lot of time to sway, unless it is to the right of center.

[last1standing]

10. I hope like hell twenty years from now we look back on this as the start..

of a new Democratic party that actually serves it's constituents. I don't think we'll know till then, however.

But your right, there is a lot of hard work to do to raise this baby.

[wakemewhenitsover]

12. Hope this is a new beginning too...

[wakemewhenitsover]

14. If Democracy for America can restore democracy to America...

...I will be thrilled, but at this point, surprised.

[last1standing]

22. Can't say I blame you.

It's going to be a long, fierce battle to make it happen. I haven't given up, yet, but if things don't change I'll be in Canada working to keep conservatives at bay there.

[purduejake]

3. It brings a LOT of us together.

I was at a rally in DC on the 6th and I feel a lot better. Go on the 20th if you can! I can't describe the energy and potential we have when our open-minds get together! Too bad it takes a disaster like Shrub to make it happen, but that's life :)

[wakemewhenitsover]

5. But an inauguration would have brought us together too...

[purduejake]

6. Not so many of us.

I wouldn't be there. I don't really have the resources to go, but I found a way to make it on the 6th and I might be there on the 20th because nothing is more important to me than defeating this danger to our country. edit: I think many others made sacrafices to be there as well. The celebrations would have been mostly for the well off who can afford to party in DC strictly to celebrate.

[Wilms]

7. Easier to track down *Co when they're all arrested for treason. n/t

[seito]

11. Sweet

:)

[wtmusic]

8. OK, here's a couple

1) Election fraud more in the spotlight than it would have been
2) Don't have to throw away your Bush protest signs

[wakemewhenitsover]

9. lol

[seabeyond]

15. raising a hand..... what joy finding 7 dems and 1 green

to eat dinner with. i cant find one dem to say hi to in this town. the people i come in contact with anyway. i say count yourself happy

[wakemewhenitsover]

16. Well-fed anyway

:9

Guess it's important to look at the wine-cup half-full.

[Amaryllis]

35. We are fortunate in my city.From an altenative paper, before the election:

"The sharpest political divide in Portland is between those who think Bush is a lousy president and those who think he's an alien sent to destroy the planet."

[wakemewhenitsover]

37. lol

[Wilms]

17. kick n/t

[SueZhope]

18. The Christian right

will soon discover who they really helped elect .:evilgrin:
That should be an amusing site to behold.

That reminds me
Is Kid Rock still playing at the ball?

[wakemewhenitsover]

23. Maybe it's about truth being revealed through actions...

...for example, today's mindblowing news that *, who thinks about our security from the moment he wakes up, wants to divert DC Homeland Security money to his coronation.

So the Repubs are now the party-on party. :headbang:

[Democrat Dragon]

19. Unfortunately,

Wesley Clark would inherit and even bigger deficit and even shakier economy from Bush.

[genieroze]

20. Kerry would not allow Fascism. n/t

[Laurab]

21. That's a tough one

But one good thing is that we've begun to show that we, the people, can and will make a difference. I think it's just the beginning, too.

[wakemewhenitsover]

24. Here's to a new beginning

:toast:

[Laurab]

25. Indeed!

:toast:

[DCwebmaster]

26. Positives

are tough to find

I think its a question of opportunity cost. The progress that could have been made in many areas if Gore or Kerry had been President. Instead of moving forward its a matter of just holding the line.

[wakemewhenitsover]

39. Did you mean opportunity cost or opportunity lost?

[ginnyinWI]

27. I thought of five...

Republican party will sustain more damage with 4 more years to screw up.

Democrats will get motivated, organized more that they would have. They will figure out better strategies, like campaigning in the south.

Election reform is going to happen, especially when they figure out that Kerry really won.

The U.N. and E.U. will take more initiative, in the absence of real leadership from the U.S., and this will be good for the world. As nature abhors a vacuum, when leadership is lacking, someone will step up.

Kerry will be a more powerful and effective Senate presence because he ran this year. The minority party will resist the majority, unlike the last four years.

[wakemewhenitsover]

28. Great point about nature abhoring a vacuum...

Perhaps when one door closes, another door opens.

But what's behind door number two?

[ginnyinWI]

30. The Dec. 27 issue of "The Nation" has a good article

called, "New Power for 'Old Europe' " by Mark Shapiro. A fascinating article; the EU now has more people than the U.S.--some 450 million, and they are gaining clout. They're setting standards for us to match, rather than the other way around. So we will see what we will see.

http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20041227&s=schapiro

[wakemewhenitsover]

32. Thanks. Food for thought.

:donut:

[nashville_brook]

29. Clinton IS looking good for 2008

how sweet would THAT be?

[wakemewhenitsover]

34. Clinton vs. Bush AGAIN would be wild!

[marions ghost]

31. Campaign and selection of 2004 was a Big Wake-Up call--

and because we have now been SO severely exploited and disenfranchised, we have a greater mandate for change than ever before. Because the abuses are so extreme, growing numbers of people will be able to support our rightful claim to a better world than this. Progressives will lead the way, but even hardcore conservatives may see the light. One thing about practical, expedient Americans-- they don't like to be ripped off, and when they realize how much they have been used and abused by neo-con artists, they will finally rebel. You will be able to tell by the deafening silence. Our job right now is to mobilize, focus, reframe, and help others know what is really going on in these times of media denial. In 2004 our base was energized. But since the election is over and remains shrouded in doubt, we didn't get the relaxation and perhaps even false sense of satisfaction that comes from "winning." We got another load of crap to swallow. Takes time to turn the Queen Mary, but the tugboats need to keep on pushin, harnessing the momentum from 2004. We have a mandate. Our courage right now will be a source of strength for others. Many positives still to be found in the re-selection of W. The alternative--putting up, suffering, waiting it out--is no longer a realistic option.

[wakemewhenitsover]

33. You go, Ghost!

:dem:

[Amaryllis]

36. Conyers' thank you letter to us points out some postitives:

We know now we can have a great deal of impact REGARDLESS of what MSM does or does not do!

Dear Friend:

I want to thank you for the time and energy you have already given to help me in my pursuit of the truth about the 2004 Presidential election, particularly the truth about what happened in Ohio. I also want to let you know what I will be working on in the coming months.

I believe what we achieved on January 6 will be a seminal event in the history of progressive politics, and significantly advance the cause of electoral reform. For this challenge to Ohio’s electors to have occurred, I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the internet activists, who spread the story of my efforts and supported me in every way possible. I am also thankful to the alternative media, including talk radio and blogs that gave substantial attention and investigation to these matters when all but a handful in the mainstream media refused to examine the facts. I cannot thank all of you personally, but you know who you are.

With the exigency of January 6 behind us, I wanted to let you know what I will be doing in the coming months. First, my investigation of Ohio voting irregularities is not over. In an effort to get as much information confirmed and circulated in advance of January 6, many valuable leads still need to be pursued and I pledge to do so. Substantial irregularities have come to light in other states during the course of this investigation and I will also pursue those leads. While there has been powerful opposition to my efforts and personal attacks against me as a result of my efforts, I want to assure you I remain steadfast.

Second, there are other matters involving wrongdoing by Administration officials that I will continue to pursue. Among other things, I will continue to seek answers about the role of senior Bush Administration officials in outing an undercover Central Intelligence Agency operative. I will also continue to examine the sources of the fraudulent case for the Iraq war, which intersects with the outing of this operative.

Third, I intend to develop and introduce legislation in a number of areas. Most importantly, I intend to introduce comprehensive election reform legislation in the coming weeks, and I will fight for its passage at the earliest possible moment. I intend to hold further hearings on this issue. I will also continue to fight the job loss and the loss of retirement security that has so negatively impacted working families in my district, and I will fight the economic policies of this Administration that are the cause of these serious problems. Finally, the Judiciary Committee will also be at the center of the efforts to oversee the U.S.A. Patriot Act and ascertain which, if any, provisions should be renewed. I expect to lead the fight against a number of provisions that I believe compromise our civil liberties.

Again, thank you for all you have done. I look forward to working with you on these and other important matters in the weeks and months ahead.

Sincerely,

John Conyers, Jr.

[wakemewhenitsover]

38. Thanks for sharing this. And to Conyers...

:yourock: