October 30, 2004
A Slice of Apple Pie
At 1 a.m. you have to expect that almost any political debate is going to turn ugly. Doubly so when in a bar, filled with regulars, littered with empty glasses and bottles, the Friday night before a presidential election. Never mind that this particular bar happens to be in one of the most hotly contested areas of Florida, a place that just might determine the outcome of Election 2004.
You’d expect it to get ugly, but you’d be surprised.
Me, a libertarian Republican, reluctant Bush supporter, rabid capitalist. To my right, a Republican who for some reason buys into Michael Moore. Across from me, a liberal girl with a “I’ll hug your elephant if you kiss my ass” shirt. Scattered throughout: A foreigner with a taste for politics, an inebriated libertarian with no love for either major candidate, a democrat trying to avoid a fight, and a quiet man, maybe homeless, who’s sick of all the lies and doesn’t want to hear political talk at all. The barkeep, an immigrant from the mid-east. His bar help, an independent who dislikes Bush but refuses to vote because she objects to politics-as-usual from anyone.
This was America. Gathered in a small bar just outside of USF. It might as well have been a Zogby sample, albeit a drunk one.
Its amazing to hear a room full of drinkers argue John Locke and Karl Marx from behind bottles of Guinness and Heineken. It makes you wonder if all of our American style self loathing, our perception that “most people are just stupid” is really true. After all, this wasn’t some lounge or salon. The beer came from an ice tray, the place was filled with smoke, and the music ranged from Garth Brooks to Rob Zombie. These were common folks, trying to have a night away from the everyday, looking for a beer and some respite from mundane lives in a mundane part of town.
You’d expect to hear some colloquial political debate, maybe some thick southern accents. You’d expect a stereotype. Instead, you would have seen something remarkable. A room full of tipsy philosophers, vocal and loud, but courteous. Boisterous voices and drunk shouts were followed by handshakes. Disagreements and debates ended in respect, if not admiration. Angry words diffused by a sense that once we reached last call we’d all still be countrymen, part of the same great, amazing, beautiful, frustrating place called America.
It was just little bar in the American battleground, nothing to write home about, filled with the same fears and hopes that we all hear about in the news everyday. I just happened to be there, happened to walk in with some friends for one last drink before bedtime, happened to be pulled in an argument that I did not want to be part of.
Instead of just the drink I had hoped for, I also got a little bonus, a little slice of hope.
If the heart of America is anything like the hearts of the people in that little bar, then maybe we’re all going to be ok after all, regardless of what happens on the first Tuesday of November.
Just a little hope in a dreary, angry world.
Posted by Damon Dimmick at October 30, 2004 04:39 PMAin’t got no bars like that here in Texas, except maybe Austin. Course, everyone here legally carries a weapon. Why chance having to use it in a political debate near closing time, eh?
I remember bars and evenings like that in Lansing Mi. around Mi. State U. back in 1969. WatchBlog however, does the same thing for me, give me hope, that is. As long as civil discourse can be achieved voluntarily at a website like WB, I have hope to go along with my realism and rationality.
Got to say, however, if Bush is reelected, some of my hope will be dimmed. But that too means the hope of some Bush supporter will be raised. Maybe hope is relatively constant in that way.
Posted by: David R. Remer at October 30, 2004 05:06 PMDavid, here in Houston I was perusing the voter guide provided in the Chronicle. While I wasn’t surprised that they endorsed Bush, what amazed me was is that they supported the opponent to the Harris County DA. They accused the DA (Rosenthal) of stubborness and a refusal to acknowldege the problems with the phoney DNA testing that has gone on in the Houston Police Crime Lab. (Which by the way, has corrollaries in Dallas and the DPS (State Troopers))
In their endorsement of Bush they acknowledge all his blunders and stubborness to admit mistakes. Then they endorse him saying that since he will not have a political agenda to be reelected, that perhaps he can now “bet back on track.” I was floored by their logic. I realize the papers owners are probably personal friends of the Bushes, but such blatant tunnel vision just astounds me. But then I remember this is Texas. I need a beer.
I enjoyed your post, Damon.
Posted by: Grreg at October 30, 2004 10:29 PMThe same thing happened here in Chicago with the Chicago Tribune. They managed to point out all of Bush’s faults, then make him their endorse him for president.
Should the media make endorsements in the first place? They are members of our community with tremendous power given to them in the first ammendment. (Never piss-off someone who buys their ink by the barrel!) The electronic media is even worse. They seem to think that it’s their job to fabricate the new, not just report it.
Posted by: Roy at October 31, 2004 12:05 AMRemember that an endorsement of a candidate is in relation to his opponents. Just because a newspaper can sift through political spin and still discover the fault or failures of a candidate that doesn’t automatically mean they should endorse his most popular opponent. Most of my Republican friends have admitted that although Bush hasn’t done everything right, Kerry would have and will be far worse.
The overwhelming topic of discussion among all the liberals in my office on 9/11/01 was basically this point: “I hate Bush but thank GOD Al Gore is not the president.” I never heard a single Gore supporter on that day wishing that Bush had lost the election. The theme carries through today.
Posted by: Bryan Williams at November 1, 2004 12:29 PMFunny, my Republicans friends run and hide when they have to face another GW Bushit answerand admit both Kerry and Gore could run circles around GW. Oh yeah Osama would be toast, too.
Isn’t fantasy fun?
Posted by: Greg at November 1, 2004 11:22 PM
