In 1994, I sat in a hospital room watching the Election Results

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

With my then husband, who lay in a coma from a fatal brain aneurysm. I had been worried about this election and the so-called "Contract for America", but my husband had been very optimistic. As the depressing results came in, I kept saying to him, "well, at least you don't have to see this". I really meant it, too.

But for some reason, I do not feel as badly this time as I did in 1994 about the results tonight. Maybe it's because I do not have a dying husband lying silently while I watch the returns. But I don't think that's it. I think the monsters are getting bolder and more brazen, and it won't be long before even the stupidest among us start seeing through their insidious hyperbole.

Let 'em think they've got some huge mandate. I predict they will fall and fall hard. At this point, the crazier the talk, the better. They didn't get what they hoped, but they got enough rope to hang themselves. And they will.

Oh, and Florida? Craziness. A criminal running for governor? And winning?

[villager]

1. this was inexplicably unrecc'd -- but let me say thanks for sharing....

...and yes, there will have to be a real "reckoning," that involves a lot of waking up -- among Americans, among Democratic "leaders," etc., etc..

And we're not quite there. Yet.

[Lifelong Protester]

4. I thank you for sharing, but I think offering a FU to an entire state

might get you locked, or at the least, unrecc'ed.
It happened to someone giving an FU to the entire state of Wisconsin. And many of us here worked hard for Russ and do not want to be dissed with the repubs and idiots.

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

6. Okay

I changed it.

[phasma ex machina]

2. +1 the monsters are getting bolder and more brazen; they will fall and fall hard; and much faster

than most people anticipate.

[Iris]

3. I wish I could go back to the you in 1994 and sit with you.

That must have been a terribly lonely night.

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

5. It certainly was lonely

That's another big difference. I have loads of like-minded folks at DU to commiserate with this time. And I still have hope.

[Robb]

7. Iris, I had to post and tell you

...this is perhaps the kindest, sweetest thing I have ever seen written on DU. It has brightened my evening considerably. Thank you for that. :)

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

9. I agree

[Iris]

13. Thanks!

:blush:

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Condolences and this will not be as bad

as 1994

[silverlib]

10. In 1994, I took my kindergarten-aged daughter to school late...

and told them I'd experienced a death - the death of my party! Not nearly as poignant as your story, but today, I told my boss that for a second time, I may be late for work - as I needed to know the outcome of this important election.

She was fine with this, only laughing when I told her one of the races I was watching was the Texas governor's race. She is a big democrat.

But I too, do not feel the pain this time. This is, as a DUer posted, the only time since 1930 that the out-party has not won both houses. This is good. It just a set-up that will give us more to run with in 2012. It really will be okay. I know it in my heart.

I'm not much of a Christian, but I'm also watching a missionary friend of mine in Costa Rica. She is posting about the Nicaraguan military on Costa Rican soil. She has spoken about the Costa Ricans not having a military - spending all of their funds on education and poverty and hoping that negotiations will once again prove effective - a light in the world of military spending. Okay - a bottle of wine and rambling, but there is light!

[Naturyl]

11. This is not as bad as 1994.

These teabaggers and other hacks getting elected aren't nearly as serious and competent as Gingrich's crop of evildoers were. These guys will flop in absurd ways very quickly. This whole teabagging nonsense is just a fad fueled by a combination of racism and the usual "don't take muh munny" foolishness. This is simultaneously their big moment in the sun and the beginning of the end for them.

[Dappleganger]

12. Thanks for your wise words.

And yes, my state is NUTS. :(

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

14. Florida results always make me scratch my head

I reckon I really Willalwayswonderwhy?