BootsBlog
11.29.2004
Nuh uh
I think I've hit on a way to cope with the unsettling truth that Bush 2.0 is really about to happen.
It's called denial.
Not a sophisticated form of denial, along the lines of failing to recognize his authority as president because he stole the election four years ago and likely did so again, though we'll never know, thanks to a compliant and de facto complicit media. And not a defiant form of denial, as voiced by the "Count every vote!" people who genuinely believe such a thing is possible when the GOP has a hold on the electoral machinery not unlike the hold that got Pee-Wee Herman in trouble so many years ago.
No, this is a more, um, primitive form of denial. Think Khruschev banging his shoe on the table. Think "nana-nana-boo-boo." I've been doing this for years.
Here's a transcript of a conversation from 1972.
My sister: "I'm telling!"
Me: "Nuh uh!"
My sister: "Yuh huh!"
Me: "Nuh uh!"
Oh, wait. That was actually from this past Thanksgiving. Whatever. The point remains: I'm just ignoring an uncomfortable reality. It's worked so far.
There are certain situations in which it's probably not a great idea -- for instance, if you find yourself saying, "That isn't a cop behind me. With his lights flashing. And a shotgun pointed at me," it might be time to face the truth. But in this political climate, it just might be the thing that gets me through the next four years.
Well, that and raspberry vodka.
(slightly edited Nov. 30)
11.26.2004
Stoppage of play
Yeah, it's been kind of a bleak autumn so far. Mainly because of that whole election thingie this month (my God, that was this month!), but it's felt like something else was missing. It wasn't until I found myself rereading Full Spectrum, by Jay Greenberg, that I realized how much I missed major-league hockey.
Remember hockey? A bunch of oversized Canadians and Europeans with consonant-laden surnames hitting each other and occasionally shooting something called a "puck" at a guy too bashful (or, more often, embarrassed) to show his face?
Sigh. Those were the days.
The problem with the Greenberg book is that it's a history of the Flyers' first three decades. When the last two decades and change consist of desperate attempts to recapture the glory, it gets a little depressing. But it's a Philadelphia sports book. It has to be depressing.
The amazing thing about the book is how many guys have donned the orange and black and then retreated into anonymity. Ah, for the glory days of Claude Boivin. And who can forget the stirring moments of drama provided by Blake Dunlop? These guys aren't even trivia questions, because the people who write trivia questions haven't heard of them.
Link
11.12.2004
'Give up hope,' newspaper advises
Heartfelt advice to John Timpane:
Many people consider a newspaper a source for information. Sometimes, that information is not readily available elsewhere. Hence the need for independent research by a newspaper's reporters. It's a process known as "newsgathering." Many newspapers still employ it.
One more thing. Remember Watergate? It was a really big scandal back in the 1970s. It was broken by a couple of reporters who were assigned to cover a story about a burglary. They suspected there was more to the story. And guess what? There was! (There was even a movie about it and everything!)
This comes to you as a public service from a reader.
Oh, I guess I should explain the 'tude here. This was in Thursday's Philadelphia Inquirer, on the op-ed page (it's linked above, but because it's not available without subscription, here it is):
Heartfelt advice to those who insist
John Timpane
is
the Commentary Page editor for The Inquirer
I write in answer to a couple hundred e-mails, a couple hundred phone calls, a raft of personal communications from depressed folks waist-deep in denial. I have some news that will not cheer them. But, hey, it's my job. Brace yourself. Here it comes.
On Jan. 20, George W. Bush will take the oath of office. Again. He will make an inaugural speech. Again. And then, Lord willing, he will be your president for four years.
The guy won the election. It is o-verrrrr. Give up hope, all ye who linger here.
But news abounds, you say, of election fraud in Ohio and Florida! Buried voting machines found with thousands of Kerry votes uncounted! Voters misinformed, miscounted, missed! Fraud rampant, barefaced, gory-visaged! Scandal alleged! Collusion! Investigations threatened! We'll turn this thing around yet.
Dear friends: Give it up.
This comes to you as a public service by this newspaper.
Contact John Timpane at 215-854-4406 or jt@phillynews.com.
Link
11.05.2004
Sitting shiva
I know it's three days later and all, and it's time to come back into the world and accept the fact that President Bush has, for the first time, been duly elected by a majority of the people and, stunningly, without requiring the intervention of five activist judges.
But it's still mourning in Blue America.
I figure I'm allowed three days of grieving. It could be seven, but frankly I'm not quite that religious. And I'm running out of black clothing.
So at some point this weekend, the crazy blogging action should resume.
