Friday, October 08, 2004
What if Kerry Wins?
I'm not panicking yet, but after reading the the Duelfer Report and seeing how deeply the Europeans and UN were in Saddam's pockets, I'm not taking any chances.
The scene opens on a command post in Iraq. It's almost dawn and some of the men have just gotten back from a patrol. Instead of showering and hitting the rack, they are huddled around a tv pulling in a cable news station. The announcer is telling them them that despite reports of international observers interfering with poll workers in Florida and over 100% turnout in some precincts in Chicago and parts of Pennsylvania, John Kerry is already claiming victory. The announcer was temporarily drowned out by a chorus of groans and curses until they are silenced by a lieutenant. They exchange grim looks, as they all realize they are about to come under siege in a rear guard action that could drag on for months. On the other side of the city, celebratory gunfire can be heard and a few blocks away an Iraq man implores his wife to keep her voice down, but she's beside herself with fear and won't be quiet. The whole neighborhood knows, she said, you were the one who warned the soldiers about the ambush. What are we going to do?
It only an hour earlier in Israel but most of the country is awake. Military vehicles are roaring through the streets, phones are ringing in bedrooms of reservists, as patrols and checkpoints are being strengthen. In Gaza and the West Bank candy is being passed out and women are ululating.
In Europe, their offices are closed but government officials are gathered in their private clubs. The atmosphere is festive, drinks are being poured. Ministers who haven't smiled in months are visibly relieved, bantering and laughing with their colleagues. There is already discussion of new business opportunities that are ready to come off the backburner.
Not far away in a city in France a Jewish man is lying awake next to his wife. She is sleeping fitfully, muttering in her sleep like she always does when she is worried. He is thinking about how they had hurried home that day from the government office at dusk. He had the foresight to start the arrangements months ago and the visas and passports would be ready in a matter of weeks. But there was still the question of a job and an apartment. They were holding hands with their daughter between them. He was muttering about the streetlights, it seems like every day more of them are broken, and they never fix them. Let's cross the street, I don't like the look of those men on the corner. He was sure he felt their eyes on the skin of his neck, it wasn't his imagination this time. If only they could leave tomorrow.
And in the US a family turns off their tv. There is a picture on the mantle of a barely smiling young Marine in dress blues. Without a word to each other, they join hands in a circle and begin to pray.
Melodramatic? Perhaps.
Unrealistic? No.
The election is getting close and there will be cheating and intimidation like this country has never seen.
Make sure you get out and vote. Make sure all your friends do. Call the local election commission to make sure you haven't disappeard off the rolls and know where you are supposed to vote. Don't forget your ID and scream bloody murder if they try to tell you your name isn't on the list. And bring a video camera to the polls just in case. You never know what you might see.
The scene opens on a command post in Iraq. It's almost dawn and some of the men have just gotten back from a patrol. Instead of showering and hitting the rack, they are huddled around a tv pulling in a cable news station. The announcer is telling them them that despite reports of international observers interfering with poll workers in Florida and over 100% turnout in some precincts in Chicago and parts of Pennsylvania, John Kerry is already claiming victory. The announcer was temporarily drowned out by a chorus of groans and curses until they are silenced by a lieutenant. They exchange grim looks, as they all realize they are about to come under siege in a rear guard action that could drag on for months. On the other side of the city, celebratory gunfire can be heard and a few blocks away an Iraq man implores his wife to keep her voice down, but she's beside herself with fear and won't be quiet. The whole neighborhood knows, she said, you were the one who warned the soldiers about the ambush. What are we going to do?
It only an hour earlier in Israel but most of the country is awake. Military vehicles are roaring through the streets, phones are ringing in bedrooms of reservists, as patrols and checkpoints are being strengthen. In Gaza and the West Bank candy is being passed out and women are ululating.
In Europe, their offices are closed but government officials are gathered in their private clubs. The atmosphere is festive, drinks are being poured. Ministers who haven't smiled in months are visibly relieved, bantering and laughing with their colleagues. There is already discussion of new business opportunities that are ready to come off the backburner.
Not far away in a city in France a Jewish man is lying awake next to his wife. She is sleeping fitfully, muttering in her sleep like she always does when she is worried. He is thinking about how they had hurried home that day from the government office at dusk. He had the foresight to start the arrangements months ago and the visas and passports would be ready in a matter of weeks. But there was still the question of a job and an apartment. They were holding hands with their daughter between them. He was muttering about the streetlights, it seems like every day more of them are broken, and they never fix them. Let's cross the street, I don't like the look of those men on the corner. He was sure he felt their eyes on the skin of his neck, it wasn't his imagination this time. If only they could leave tomorrow.
And in the US a family turns off their tv. There is a picture on the mantle of a barely smiling young Marine in dress blues. Without a word to each other, they join hands in a circle and begin to pray.
Melodramatic? Perhaps.
Unrealistic? No.
The election is getting close and there will be cheating and intimidation like this country has never seen.
Make sure you get out and vote. Make sure all your friends do. Call the local election commission to make sure you haven't disappeard off the rolls and know where you are supposed to vote. Don't forget your ID and scream bloody murder if they try to tell you your name isn't on the list. And bring a video camera to the polls just in case. You never know what you might see.
papijoe 5:46 AM
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