Dancing with Democrats
Published in the Boulder Daily Camera, 10/28/12
As circumstances would have it, my-wife-the-Democrat and I are going to spend the week of the election right smack dab in the middle of San Francisco -- Nancy Pelosi's Congressional District. Those of you who have read my columns know that I'm a pretty conservative guy who, it appears, was left hungry by the prospect of spending election night in the insufficiently liberal town of Boulder and has instead sought refuge in the One True Heart of liberal America.
No complaints. I love San Francisco.
Like many, I think that this is going to be a great election. The issues on the table are big, the differences between the parties and their candidates are clear, and it's going to be a close one. While I may like my guys better, what I love most is our democracy and the enthusiasm of We the People as we point our government in the direction that most of us think it should go. Election night this year is going to be a barnburner.
But, where do we go? What's a good Republican and his wife-the-Democrat to do on the biggest election night of their lives in the heart of San Francisco?
The obvious answer is to go join the San Francisco Republicans at their election night party. Yes, Boulder liberals, there are Republicans in San Francisco just like there are Republicans in Boulder, and, if they're like their Boulder counterparts, they throw good parties. But, hanging out with a bunch of "like minded" people I don't know who have been politically powerless for a few generations just doesn't sound like much fun.
Plus, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that election night was not really the time to huddle with your team anyway. We've done enough of that over the past months. Rather, election night is the time to celebrate a great game where the players played hard and the outcome is accepted by all. Election night is the traditional beginning of the healing process after a long fought battle.
That made it easy. On election night, we need to go find Nancy Pelosi and dance with the Democrats. No other way.
The more I thought about it, the clearer it became. Not only are the Democrats sure to have one great party lined up, as I contemplated what might happen that night, it just got more interesting.
Since the Democrats own California, all eyes will be on the national races for the President and Congress and The Big Win for Democrats in San Francisco will be reelecting Barack Obama. If that happens, the Democrats are all going to be in the mood to party and I imagine the dancing will include hands up in the air and a conga line. And, while I prefer my guy, this election cycle has shown us two Presidential candidates who are both good men with committed beliefs about what will be good for this nation in the coming years. Both have worked hard to get the opportunity to run for President and both are doing everything they can to convince the American people that they are the right guy for the job. They are good people as well as sound candidates and I will celebrate the winner, whoever it may be.
On the other hand, a Mitt Romney win would generate a lot more personal enthusiasm. Being in a roomful of Democrats as Mitt Romney is declared the next President would, I'm sure, put a crimp in the festivities and me and the Democrats will probably be slow dancing to the blues instead of rocking with Springsteen. But, I'm sure you can appreciate how a Republican in a roomful of San Francisco Democrats might find some joy in that situation and, if I can keep my sentiments in check and stay out of trouble, I will happily share that moment with my fellow Americans.
There's a third alternative -- the Republicans lose Congress, and I find myself in the room with the next Speaker of the House, Ms. Pelosi. While it's hard to find enthusiasm for that outcome, it would certainly be enlightening to share a moment of Republican surrender with Nancy Pelosi and friends. That, too, will be a moment to celebrate American democracy and the dancing will, no doubt, last until morning.
I don't know what you guys are planning for election night but, whatever the outcome, I hope that we all take that moment to celebrate the spirit of American democracy. We deserve it.
As circumstances would have it, my-wife-the-Democrat and I are going to spend the week of the election right smack dab in the middle of San Francisco -- Nancy Pelosi's Congressional District. Those of you who have read my columns know that I'm a pretty conservative guy who, it appears, was left hungry by the prospect of spending election night in the insufficiently liberal town of Boulder and has instead sought refuge in the One True Heart of liberal America.
No complaints. I love San Francisco.
Like many, I think that this is going to be a great election. The issues on the table are big, the differences between the parties and their candidates are clear, and it's going to be a close one. While I may like my guys better, what I love most is our democracy and the enthusiasm of We the People as we point our government in the direction that most of us think it should go. Election night this year is going to be a barnburner.
But, where do we go? What's a good Republican and his wife-the-Democrat to do on the biggest election night of their lives in the heart of San Francisco?
The obvious answer is to go join the San Francisco Republicans at their election night party. Yes, Boulder liberals, there are Republicans in San Francisco just like there are Republicans in Boulder, and, if they're like their Boulder counterparts, they throw good parties. But, hanging out with a bunch of "like minded" people I don't know who have been politically powerless for a few generations just doesn't sound like much fun.
Plus, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that election night was not really the time to huddle with your team anyway. We've done enough of that over the past months. Rather, election night is the time to celebrate a great game where the players played hard and the outcome is accepted by all. Election night is the traditional beginning of the healing process after a long fought battle.
That made it easy. On election night, we need to go find Nancy Pelosi and dance with the Democrats. No other way.
The more I thought about it, the clearer it became. Not only are the Democrats sure to have one great party lined up, as I contemplated what might happen that night, it just got more interesting.
Since the Democrats own California, all eyes will be on the national races for the President and Congress and The Big Win for Democrats in San Francisco will be reelecting Barack Obama. If that happens, the Democrats are all going to be in the mood to party and I imagine the dancing will include hands up in the air and a conga line. And, while I prefer my guy, this election cycle has shown us two Presidential candidates who are both good men with committed beliefs about what will be good for this nation in the coming years. Both have worked hard to get the opportunity to run for President and both are doing everything they can to convince the American people that they are the right guy for the job. They are good people as well as sound candidates and I will celebrate the winner, whoever it may be.
On the other hand, a Mitt Romney win would generate a lot more personal enthusiasm. Being in a roomful of Democrats as Mitt Romney is declared the next President would, I'm sure, put a crimp in the festivities and me and the Democrats will probably be slow dancing to the blues instead of rocking with Springsteen. But, I'm sure you can appreciate how a Republican in a roomful of San Francisco Democrats might find some joy in that situation and, if I can keep my sentiments in check and stay out of trouble, I will happily share that moment with my fellow Americans.
There's a third alternative -- the Republicans lose Congress, and I find myself in the room with the next Speaker of the House, Ms. Pelosi. While it's hard to find enthusiasm for that outcome, it would certainly be enlightening to share a moment of Republican surrender with Nancy Pelosi and friends. That, too, will be a moment to celebrate American democracy and the dancing will, no doubt, last until morning.
I don't know what you guys are planning for election night but, whatever the outcome, I hope that we all take that moment to celebrate the spirit of American democracy. We deserve it.
