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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us November 4, 2004 On Deadline Tyranny won fairly this time This is a sad day for America, and a sad day for Americans. Bush has not only consistently led us on the wrong path, but lied to us along the way. He attacked a country that was of no threat, aiding in the ruination of our economy and murdering more than 118,000 Iraqis and Americans. He has raped our rights and made it clear he intends to limit or erase even more of them. He has alienated and insulted nations that have stood by us for the better part of a century. When we get attacked again, who will wish to help us? What friends do we have left? This election has cost me more than four more years of oppression, war, job losses, and hatred coming from most of the world. This election cost me my basic trust in the common sense and decency of the average American. America is on the verge of crumbling, and it seems most Americans are enthusiastically embracing that fate. I have no more faith in the average American. We have become the exact opposite of what our founding fathers envisioned. We are the ignorant, tyrannical nation that the world says we are, and unlike the last election, this time tyranny won fairly. Craig Stephens Ashland Dreams of secession I woke up to morning in Amerika. When that great sage P.T. Barnum said "Nobody ever went broke by underestimating the intelligence of the public," he had Americans in mind. Just when I think my fellow citizens can't get more gullible, they re-elect the biggest con man since Barnum himself. Saddam and Osama in cahoots? Weapons of Mass Destruction? Gay marriage as the greatest threat to civilization since the Black Plague? Puhleez. On the opposite end of the spectrum - well, there was no opposite end of the spectrum in this election, was there? There was the far-right candidate and the "sort of in the center, but talking tough in order to win over the right" candidate. He staked his victory on an appeal to the so-called "center" but one of the lessons of this election is that there is no center. In the words of Gertrude Stein, there is no there there. What passes as "centrist" has shifted so far to the right as to be meaningless. Give the reactionaries their due: they have completely co-opted the terms of the debate. If Eisenhower were alive today, Ann Coulter would castigate him as a liberal traitor. As the world spins out of control, each of us must find that place where we draw our line, where we take our stand. I don't think many of us will choose the "center." I slept fitfully on election night. Sometime around dawn I dreamed I was in a huge hall packed with people. It looked a lot like a political convention; everyone was screaming and yelling and waving signs. I don't know what precipitated the ruckus, but I was very much caught up in the moment and started screaming "Secede Now! Secede Now! Secede Now!" Everyone in the hall started chanting along with me, "Secede Now! Secede Now! Secede Now!" I led the chanting multitudes out the door, perhaps to storm the barricades. When I got outside, I looked behind me and found there were only half a dozen people following my lead. I cogitated on this cosmic message during my morning commute as NPR's pollsters, spinsters, and commentators repeated the word "mandate" over and over again. When I couldn't stand it any longer, I switched to the local rock station and caught Beck singing "Soy un perdedor, I'm a loser baby, so why don't you kill me..." Make of that what you will, fellow citizens. I'll meet you at the bottom of the rabbit hole. Stephany Smith Pearson Ashland Want to discuss diversity? In response to Ken Baker's letter to the editor on Nov. 1: While I am equally unimpressed by the thievery of yard signs, I find it rather ironic that a person who supports measure 36 would want to initiate a public discussion about diversity. Lyndia Hammer Ashland DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Slippers Isotoner Slippers Dsw Shoes Ceramic Piggy Banks Fanny Mae Eloans Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weight Loss Programs Citibank Student Loans Acs Loan Matchmaking & Dating Scripts Adventure Travel Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation helzberg diamonds Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams