Wake me up in November
How about that Iowa? Huh? Wow. Yeah.
Not much else to say. For a long time politics was really getting me charged up. I relished the fight and found all the battles and back-and-forth invigorating. I watched “Meet the Press” faithfully every Sunday. I loved reading and responding to the vein-busting hatred of Howard Dean over at Dean Esmay. I read Smirking Chimp with relish.
Now, on the eve of Bush’s State of the Union speech, I just feel numb. And it’s not because of Howard Dean’s disappointing finish in Iowa. I’m sure he’ll work his way back, yada yada yada.
It just doesn’t feel fun anymore. I guess my optimism finally just collapsed under its own weight. Inevitable, really.
If anyone knows where I can get a hibernation shot that lasts, oh I don’t know, a year or so, let me know. I’m in the market.
Here’s a long-term treatment that Boyfriend-Unit Matt and I are trying out: Only react to and invest in political events that affect you directly. The presidential level of political discourse is too abstract for all but a very well-connected few. Look to your own community, your own city, your own state, and you’ll find your optimism / pessimism better rewarded.
I got a really nice pair of binoculars for Christmas, and have been re-discovering my childhood love of birdwatching with them. It really helps me put things in perspective.
White-tailed Kites are extremely cool. And a country that has them flying around can’t be all bad, crappy president notwithstanding.
I love your perspective John Callender.
Perspective is everything. Reminds me of one of my favorite movie scenes, in Dead Poets Society where Robin Williams has his students stand on a desk to view the room/world from an entirely new perspective.