Left In Lowell

Silver Lining of Our Eight Years of Bush?

6 Responses to “Silver Lining of Our Eight Years of Bush?”

1. Bob F Says:
   January 8th, 2008 at 2:55 pm

   in keeping with my usual pessimism I am not sure there is a silver lining once ‘the decider’ exists stage rightwing! The national economy is swirling around the bowl and ready for a good flush. Our military is over-extended and the health care returning vets need is criminal. Health care costs and energy cost remain out of control. My fear is that whichever Dem might win, they will be presiding over a wake instead of a revival. Its not clear to me that one election cycle will clean up the viper nest that is Washington, DC. I was shopping at Trader Joe’s today (not the hoped for one in Lowell:)) and overheard a conversation among two NH residents who were puzzling over this question: ‘How is it possible that in this vast nation we end up with these candidates as our choice for president.’ As one person put it ’something is really whacky.’ When I teach US history students marvel over the ways in which government worked during and after World War II to put in motion the GI bill and the VA home mortgage program. Invariably a student will ask me if I think the government today is capable of establishing such a bold program - I dance around the answer and in the end say no and thisis why you all need to get involved. Perhaps, the way this campaign seems to have galvanized young people is the ’silver lining’?

2. Lynne Says:
   January 8th, 2008 at 4:58 pm

   Well, since a silver lining is a mere sliver of hope in a dense cloud of ick, that’s how I’m using it in this post.

   In other words, I agree with you - it’s gonna be teh suck, all right, but in the least, there are indications that we might just be able to rebuild our foreign policy if we do it right. It’s something, maybe not much, but something. Imagine what an engaged Democratic president could do in the Middle East after years of Bush incompetence and ignorance.

   The rest, well, we’re toast. There’s no denying that.

3. Bob F Says:
   January 8th, 2008 at 5:42 pm

   ok - so maybe we call it a sliver lining then that has the potential to morph into something magical/wonderful, esp. if the country’s place in the wider world is reconfigured into something much, much less bellicose and a new group of people with creative ideas for how govt ought to work and innovative solutions to our problems gets to sit at decisionmaking tables. One worry I have already is that as the presidential race moves forward, whoever the Democrats nominate, will surround him or herself with the same tired-ass, idea-barren crowd that sat by and watched the eight-year trainwreck with little more than the occassional peep. For me the silver lining will be when non-Harvard trained economists and foreign policy wonks are sitting in Washington and non-Princeton-trained economists and political scientists are crafting major reforms in energy, health care, housing and employment. Time for these so-called ‘bright’ guys to all leave the stage on the same bus and let a new wind blow into town - that would be a CHANGE!!!

4. waittilnextyr Says:
   January 8th, 2008 at 7:50 pm

   When things go wrong as they sometimes will.
   When the road you’re trudging seems all up hill.
   When funds are low and the debts are high.
   And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.
   When care is pressing you down a bit.
   Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit.
   Life is queer with its twists and turns.
   As everyone of us sometimes learns.
   And many a failure turns about.
   When he might have won had he stuck it out:
   Don’t give up though the pace seems slow –
   You may succeed with another blow.
   Success is failure turned inside out –
   The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
   And you never can tell how close you are.
   It may be near when it seems so far:
   So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit –
   It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.

   - Author unknown

5. Anonymous Says:
   January 8th, 2008 at 9:03 pm

   Go Hillary!!

6. Fran McDougall Says:
   January 9th, 2008 at 9:25 am

   She’s a WOMAN but isn’t about to iron your shirt. She feels deeply about issues and will allow herself to show it. She is HILLARY and she blew the pundits out of the water. So my message is this , talking heads go home and leave me alone. The writer’s strike is bad enough on having choices on TV but add that to constant primary coverage laced with false expectations has left me seareching for numbing pastimes at night such as True TV or 48 Hours!!! You may be yelling go Pats this weekend but you’re going to hear me also screaming….You go girl! Go Hillary, Go!!!! How sweet it is.

Leave a Reply