Four years ago, I read a letter to the editor in (I think it was) the SA Express-News. In it, the writer made fun of Democrats who still had Kerry or even Gore stickers on their vehicles, comparing them to Miss Havisham in Dickens' Great Expectations. Just like Miss Havisham couldn't get over the fact that she had been left at the altar and refused to take her wedding dress off, Democrats (according to the writer) couldn't accept that their candidate lost "fair and square," as evidenced by their bumper stickers and their "whining." Well, this year it appears as though the eternal jilted bride has an R in front of her name.
Before November 4th, I was amazed how few McCain/Palin bumper stickers and yard signs I saw around San Antonio. As it turns out, while the Republicans were able to hold on to Texas' electoral votes, Bexar County turned blue. Now, AFTER the election, I'm getting the impression that there are more McCain/Palin stickers driving around now than before. Now remember, this is a strictly anecdotal observation from various parking lots that I frequent on a regular basis (work, church, gym, etc.). If it's true, though, what are those people thinking? My own suspicion is that they slapped on the campaign stickers that they had lying around the house since it's premature to come out with the "Don't blame me" or "Impeach" ones, even though they are probably being produced at cafepress as we speak. Some of them probably knew that their candidates weren't P/VP material. Some of them may even be relieved that McCain didn't win. If he had, he'd actually have to do the job of governing. Instead, they have Obama to blame things on, all the while saying, "If McCain had won..."
What gets me is that the naysayers are Americans too, they have to live here too, and what goes on affects them too. Yet they hope President Obama will fail so their beloved "Sister Sarah" will have a chance in 2012. Patriotic, isn't it?
I remember my immediate reaction when W became president in 2000: "I hope he doesn't do too much damage." I didn't think he'd be a good president, but I hoped to be proven wrong (sadly I wasn't) since I lived in this country and was affected by his administration as much as those who had voted for him. Many Republican voters, however, hope that the next president will fail, just so they have a scapegoat. Sad.
It is amazing to observe the tackiness to which they stoop. An example: at the beginning of the semester, I had my class (at a Historically Black college where I teach part-time in addition to my UTSA job) write a little essay about themselves. They were asked to write where they had gone to school before, what they were majoring in, and what kind of career they hoped to have. Instead, one student wrote, "I am strict Republican and I believe Obama will ruin this great country." I hope for his own sake he stays home tomorrow.
The absolute epitome of tackiness: I went to the funeral service of a man from my church, and his son (not a member of our church) gave the eulogy. In it he said his one consolation was that his father wouldn't be around to suffer through the coming administration. Whoa. The organist, a good friend of mine, told me afterwards that the guy was a real piece of work.
So what do disappointed Republicans have in common with Miss Havisham? After all, they were not wronged. No one promised McCain he would be president. Oh, but they PERCEIVE to have been wronged. After all, their candidate was a freakin' war hero! A POW, no less (maybe he should have mentioned that more... snark, snark). How could he lose? Especially against an opponent who wasn't even eligible to run because he is... Kenyan, Indonesian, Muslim, whatever... anything.
Just like Miss Havisham would take off her wedding gown and clear the remains of the wedding reception that never was away, the Miss Havisham Republicans refuse to come out of campaign mode. Best example: Sarah Palin, the "jilted" VP-to-be. She is still governor of Alaska (the state that is supposedly so important to her) and now would be a good time to actually do that job. Over at HuffPo, AKMuckraker writes:
So, what is the state of Alaska doing to help its citizens as they face these conditions of scarcity that are beyond what many of us can imagine? The answer is, nothing. According to Mr. Tucker the lack of heating oil and food and the resulting threat to life did not count as an emergency to the State of Alaska.
A question. Where is our Governor? What are her priorities? I have heard her concerns about anonymous bloggers, about media coverage, about the legislature, and the gas line. I have seen a press release come out saying "There you go again" to the Anchorage Daily News. I haves seen lots of time and energy focused on how Sarah Palin feels mistreated by the media. But I have not heard one, single, solitary word about Emmonak. I have seen no press releases about what my state's government is doing to help its people in harm's way who are cold and hungry. I have heard big talk about a Rural Subcabinet headed up by our Attorney General, Talis Colberg, and I've heard that they're busy evaluating.
There is a crisis in her home state, of which she is governor, but she still harps on what was supposedly done to her during the election. Literally, she refuses to take her campaign clothes off.
Miss Havisham in the book had lots of money and an adopted daughter. There are plenty of meaningful things she could have done with her life even after she was stood up at the altar. Instead, she stayed stuck in her bitterness and used her resources to mess with other people's happiness. Sounds familiar?
Ironically, the same people thought in 2001 that the "Sore/Loserman" sticker was so funny.