That is the title to one of so many great Irving Berlin songs sung by the incomparable Bing Crosby. (Although Bing's politics left a lot to be desired, as a crooner, he was second to none.) As I was looking at my news sites this morning, it occurred to me that there are actually a lot of good things happening in the midst of the unrelenting RW invective which would have one believe our great country is going to hell in a handbasket. As a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia, I am dangerously close to the Potomac and am perhaps more exposed to the echo chamber than many, so the wingnut wackiness has a little more exposure here than in other states.
Anyway, I started mentally ticking off the good things that are happening and thought this would be a good way for me to get going on a Saturday. Follow below for my list, in no particular order, of what I see good happening all around me:
1. Foreign Policy win: Not only are negotiations with Iran happening, there are results. After 40+ years of isolation and all parties digging in their heels, they are talking, agreeing, and acting. With any luck, this (RW manufactured) crisis could actually come to an end in my lifetime. I guarantee you US corporations would sure like access to Iran's population and market.
2. Foreign Policy win II: Syria is giving up their chemical weapons. Wow! Did we just see Putin and Assad cornered by US diplomacy? Yes, US diplomacy? Uh, that would be SoS Kerry and Pres. Obama!
3. Elections have results: All five statewide elected offices in Virginia are now held by the good guys. What a great team we now have representing us in the Senate and running our state.
4. Elections have results II: Since the D's won two special elections for our State Senate (one in recount status) and we won the Lieutenant Governorship, we will get to organize the State Senate counterbalancing our wingnutty House of Delegates.
5. Elections have results III: Right after taking the oath of office, Gov. McAuliffe put equal protection for GLBT workers in an executive order, reversing his predecessor's stance in favor of discrimination.
6. Elections have results IV: Our new AG will not defend the relatively recent amendment in our state constitution banning gay marriage, as his opinion is that it is unconstitutional. He actually stated that he wanted Virginia "to be on the right side of history" for once. (For examples where we weren't, see "Massive Resistance" and "Loving v. Virginia".)
7. Schadenfreude: After a governorship marked by unrelenting assults on personal freedom and reproductive choice, our ex-Gov. "Bible Bob" McDonnell and his wife have been indicted on 14 federal counts. This is actually not something to be thankful for in itself, as it is really a sad story for the Commonwealth and for the McDonnell family, but he had been on the short list for Romney's VP choice. Imagine if.... Bible quote: "Pride goeth before a fall".
8. Schadenfreude II: Chris Christie. This guy, on paper, was a credible threat to be President in 2016. Now he is toast. Bible quote II: "How the mighty have fallen".
OK, that's enough for now. Feel free to add on and have a great Saturday!