How Bush's victory sent liberal Britain into collective depression

[Pert_UK]

"We went to bed daring to hope and awoke to the crushing news. And ever since we've been swapping emails and texts about how miserable we feel. Emma Brockes on how George Bush's victory catapaulted liberal Britain into collective depression.

The mistake we all made was in getting our hopes up. Until lunchtime on Tuesday, in accordance with the rules of superstition, lay supporters of John Kerry kept their outlook pessimistic. In bones, waters, winds and related vapours across the land, the election was divined by pro-Democrats to be in the bag for Bush. This is what is known as preparing a soft landing; it is measured in units of unhatched chicks....

When people woke yesterday morning, those for whom Bush's overnight gains were unwelcome weathered two sensations: a slug of shock, followed by a surge of recognition. We had been here before. This was 1992, the morning after the general election when, despite hatred for the Tories having peaked over the poll tax, they still managed to bring home a 21-seat majority. And so, not even callers to 5 Live could summon any outrage; despondency was instant and lethal...By 10am, as people got to their desks and began a day of low productivity and high personal email exchange...people asked each other how long they had stayed up the night before. "Until 4.30am," said my friend Jim. "Long enough to start crying like a girl."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/story/0,13918,1342798,00.html

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. Thanks for posting this.

It is helpful to know that we have friends abroad. Helps fill the void left behind those here at home that we've chosen to distance ourselves from.

[Pert_UK]

3. Wish there was more I could do.......

Everyone over here is totally fucking gutted and can only begin to imagine what it must be like for you guys.

P.x

[aquart]

4. Like you can't wake up from a nightmare.

But I'm getting over that. Now I'm almost relishing the horror and destruction.

The thing about fascism is that it's a terrible idea leading to really bad results.

The Democrats are utterly out of power. Bush will have to be brought down by Republicans. Those gutless bastards are going to have to make decisions. They rubberstamped Bush before. Still?

Increase the debt and like it?

Level Iraq and kill another 100,000 or maybe a million Iraqi people in defense of the Iraqi people? Still won't work. Then what?

Destroy our tax system and tell citizens that a 23-50% sales tax is a better idea?

Challenge South America for dominance in the Americas? Attack Venezuela in the belief that Brazil won't notice? Attack Venezuela with what army?

GO REPUBLICANS!!!

[Nay]

5. Thanks, Perk. We are stunned as well.

Many of us are having to decide whether we even want to stay in this country any longer. It is a complete and total shock, because most of us, up until the last minute, believed in the collective good sense of the American people. Now we do not.

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. I would settle for justice.

In a just world, Cheney would be held accountable for those energy meetings and Bush would be impeached over the Plame incident. If there was any integrity left in America, those are the two events that I so look forward to see in the next four years. If it does not happen, then the world should know that we are worse than a banana republic.

[Positronic]

9. In a just world

, wouldn't there have to be proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Cheney and Bush did the things that you allege?

Hate them all you want, but the LAW is still the LAW isn't it?

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. During the Clinton Administration, we had no trouble investigating

allegations made by Republicans. Why the double-standard today? The Bush Administration has caused far more damage to the public safety and welfare of this country, than anything the Clinton Administration ever did. Those Cheney energy meetings may hold the answers to why al Qaeda in Afghanistan were stirred up to strike us on September 11th. I've seen enough of short-tempered Anglo-Bush during those debates to understand that his manner would not have translated well to Muslims in the Middle East. Bush may not have realized how vulnerable we were to attack when Cheney's little energy cabal gave Afghanistan an ultimatum back in the summer of 2001. But the fact that Bush is now serving a second term because we failed to investigate this matter thoroughly tells me that our government is corrupt, negligent and incompetent all packaged in one little lock box.

The law is not applied equally in this country. This is a fact that all minorities know, Mr.-less-than-30-postings.

[tngledwebb]

7. Remember...

it was never easy to go to other countries to live, anyway. And thanks to BushCo Americans are more unwelcome than ever. The Brits, perhaps for good reasons, have always thought of Americans as 'mad', ie crazy.

[Pert_UK]

8. Brits have always been fond of our American friends...

I can remember growing up and all my friends dreaming of going to America to live.....Not sure many kids would feel that way now, although we Brits do still like to visit.

Keep a stiff upper lip - you'll just have to fight on and keep Monkeyboy in check as best you can, for all our sakes.

P.

[Michael_UK]

2. The Guardian really made me feel better today

Good to know I'm not the only one!

[atommom]

11. Join the crowd, liberal Britain. :(

I've been reading the British press for a long time, and often get a much more objective take on our country than what our own media gives us. They're horrified, and with good reason.