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The Sigh Heard Around the World

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Message Robert Raitz
Did you hear it? I know I did. I started hearing it about 7:00 PM Central time. That was an hour after the polls had closed in the Eastern Time zone. The reports started coming in that the upset so many of us have been predicting, yet others like myself had feared to call so as not to jinx, was starting to materialize. It was at about that point I actually began to breathe a little freer, and felt a little lighter. But let me back up a bit. I went to my polling place today, and I was encouraged by the fact that there were lots of cars in the lot. I had to circle the parking lot once to find a space. Once that was done, I entered the polling place and immediately found an open booth at which I could play fill in the dots. There were lots of booths, and actually, there were lots of people there using them, too. Obviously, the dirty tricks division had missed my precinct. Yeah! After I filled out my two ballots (one for candidates, one for bond issues (LOTS of bond issues)), I walked to the scanner. My smile broadened just a bit to see it was an ES&S machine. According to the HBO Documentary Hacking Democracy, the ES&S machines were nowhere near as easy to f*ck with as the Diebold disgraces. Extra bonus: candy for being a good boy and voting! All in all, the process took about thirty minutes. There were lots of circuit judges and other candidates, and way too many bond issues as well. I was even happier when I realized that there were more Independent and Libertarian candidates on the ballot than I had ever witnessed before in my time of voting here in Texas. I voted for most of the Independent and Libertarian candidates. If there were none, I picked the Democrats. I didn't vote for one Republican, even if they were the only candidates. Firstly, my vote wouldn't have mattered. Secondly, I don't vote for Republicans on principle. So with my ballot filled out, and sucked into the abyss of the ES&S machine, I grabbed my Hershey bar, my Twizler, and my Kit Kat, and I exited the polling place. I felt rather happy with the way things had gone. All my fears of being met by the Gestapo evaporated. My worries about having to stand there and demand my right to vote went away as the last nibble of that Twizler disappeared down my throat. Then came the wait. I spent most of the time waiting sitting in the park next to the polling place. It was a nice sunny day, and I just needed to decompress from the bullshit of the last few months. As I said above, it was like an extra heavy weight had been lifted from me. Right or wrong, turn over or status quo, Democrat or Republican, I had done my part, and it was now up to the rest of America. All that was left was to count the votes. And when the time came when the vote counts started racking up for the "good guys", I really felt some relief. It was like I was watching a good friend coming out of a coma. It was like I was seeing the dawning of a new age. It was like cresting a hill to see a green, fertile valley laid out as far as the eye can see. I know there are many here who have put in countless hours helping out wherever possible. I think we all need to take a moment and congratulate ourselves on our efforts. I think we all need to join in the sigh heard around the world. Join me, will you? Ahhhhhhhhhhh....WHEWWWWIE! Now, don't you feel better? I sure do! Ok, now that we have had our sigh, the real work begins. This is just the first step. We need to get together and be sure we all get on the same page. There are some things that really need to happen. Our work as patriots and government watchers is to make sure that those whom we have put into office realize that we expect results and a change in this failed neo-con travesty laughingly called government. A few of the things on my personal list: 1) Subpoenas out the ass for everyone who had anything to do with the Iraq war, its failed intelligence, or any of the tangential issues surrounding it. 2) Getting rid of tax breaks and free trade treaties that have outsourced my life, and the lives of so many of my blue collar brothers and sisters. 3) Raising the minimum wage so people can actually have a chance to live. 4) Ending corporate welfare and tax breaks for the rich. 5) HEALTH INSURANCE FOR EVERYONE! 6) Closing tax loopholes that allow American companies to claim offshore branches of their business to avoid paying their fair share of taxes! 7) Even more subpoenas, but this time for Oil Pigs, and their allies, up to and including DUBYA and Dick(LESS) Cheney. 8) IMPEACHMENT of both DUBYA and Dick(LESS)!!!! 9) Charges of treason brought against DUBYA, Dick(LESS), Hot Karl, Condi, Dumbsfeld, and any other conspirator who have so shamelessly usurped and corrupted our government!!!!!!!!!! I think that list ought to keep congress busy and keep their noses clean long enough to get a Democrat into the White House in 2008(or maybe even an Independent or Libertarian). Wouldn't that be a kick? Hell, this country might even become a place worthy of living in again. Frankly, as long as I get to have a job again, and maybe even health insurance, I'll be pretty happy with that. The rest of the stuff listed above can be just the really tasty icing on a fabulous cake. Blessed be! Pappy
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Harpist, unemployed blue collar worker, and Bush basher living deep in the heart of Texas.
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