http://tree-and-leaf.livejournal.com/240015.html

[fpb]

The degree of idiocy, blind optimism driven by nothing more than the desire to be convinced, and foolish belief (someone even mentioned Tony Blair, only to conclude that Obama will no doubt be better) beggars belief. And the one person who is trying to object to this insanity is silenced. Truly, in the land of the self-blinded the one-eyed man is lucky to escape with his life.

Comments

[8bitbard.livejournal.com]

The "devotion to the Republican party" comment was pure comedy gold. "Beyond the Circles of the Party System I will not pursue them. For beyond the Circles of the Party System there is Nothing. But within them they shall not escape me, until they enter into Nothing."

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

Respectfully, aren't you both being hyperbolic?

[fpb.livejournal.com]

About what? And I would point out that in spite of the visible and soon to become irreversible decline of American power and prosperity, the Presidency is still the most powerful elected office in the world. A wrong choice affects everyone. I want to see Europe free of American protection and starting to pull its own weight in the world, but not in a way that damages and diminishes everybody and favours nobody except the villains, Putin, Ahmedinajad, etc.

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

calling it "insanity", claiming that you were "silenced" (people argued against you and obviously didn't care to listen to what you said, but nobody prevented you from talking), and implying you were lucky to escape with your life. That's what I would call hyperbole :)

Yeah, I don't want that either. But even if Obama fails very short of a lot of people's expectation (which he will, given how high those expectations are), I don't see how he can be that bad that he will increase the US's decline, or more than McCain would have.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

I certainly was silenced. The thread has been closed to further comment from me. As for the rest, it is a quotation from Menken, and if you do not understand metaphor I am not going to teach you. As for the results of Obama, have you forgotten that there is a tremendous recession devouring the American economy even as we speak? If Obama manages that less than successfully, American power will collapse like a deflated balloon.

[affablestranger.livejournal.com]

It's not the much-ballyhooed New Day in America. It's just the one after the one that was yesterday. So many people have pinned every hope they have, their own self-validation indeed some, on the notion that yesterday actually changed everything. I have seen and heard that all day today. To some today they're acting as if want and lack have been driven magically away by the forces of Light and Harmony, that never before has there been such a good as now, and that things are only going to get better and better and better (and exponentially, too!) I kid you not. Others, however, walk around as if their Beloved not only left them in the lurch with a mountain of debt but also killed the dog and stole the car on the way out. They see only Dire Times ahead. I fall into the middle. Today is only one day removed from yesterday, and nothing has actually changed except roughly 40,000,000 are riding an emotional high based on silly assumptions and a poor understanding of both the American system of government and history. The normal course of things as far as I know it is usually it's only a scant few million maybe riding a slight buzz (not a high). That most people know of neither their government nor their history remains constant. To me, it's just another day.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Thank you for at least one person who has not fallen for the two sheets in the old castle (have you seen the poem in my other entry?) There is some slight comfort in having at least one respected friend who thinks as I do.

[affablestranger.livejournal.com]

Yes, I read the poem.

You are not alone, good sir.

[sanscouronne.livejournal.com]

Exactly.

Thank you for articulating so well how I feel.

[affablestranger.livejournal.com]

You are quite welcome. :)