Political analysis from the dive bar
Recently, I'm cultivating a new habit of walking around the corner to my local bar on Friday evenings when Rick is at a more academic happy hour at school. I chat with the bartender and my neighbors, and read the LA Times when not chatting so I can ignore the TVs at all times.
This past Friday, however, the TVs were playing the presidential debate. I was taping it at home, but watching it in the company of neighborhood souses was incomparable.
The most outspoken patron yelled at the screen, "WHEN ARE WE GOING TO TALK ABOUT FUCKING JOBS AND HEALTHCARE? All that money for Iraq instead of for OUR economy and OUR schools. AND FOR WHAT? THEY NEVER HAD ANY FUCKING WEAPONS!" Then he flipped Dubya a double bird.
Another man agreed, but asked if voting for Kerry was really any better.
"I'm a Republican, but I can't vote for this cocksucker again. Just this once, I'm voting Kerry. I'm voting for the Democrat."
Guy Number Two still wasn't sure he could do it, and said he'd probably stay home this year. Being an Anybody But Bush gal myself, rather than a Kerry fan (plus I'd had a beer by now), I couldn't immediately think of any cogent pro-Kerry arguments, so I told him he should vote anyway, but register his displeasure with the choices by writing in himself or a dream candidate or whoever.
"That's it! I'll write in myself! Mike, from the Porno Party! VOTE PORNO PARTY! A CONDOM IN EVERY KITCHEN!"
I swear, it's not usually this rowdy. The election is definitely raising the aggro level of all and sundry. I had a much higher-level conversation with the genteel mother of two who came in for a cocktail just after the debates ended.
Regardless, I can only hope some swing voters around the nation share the opinions of these disgruntled middle-aged barflies in LA. If the second guy stays home, Bush has still lost two votes, even if Kerry has only gained one.
Recently, I'm cultivating a new habit of walking around the corner to my local bar on Friday evenings when Rick is at a more academic happy hour at school. I chat with the bartender and my neighbors, and read the LA Times when not chatting so I can ignore the TVs at all times.
This past Friday, however, the TVs were playing the presidential debate. I was taping it at home, but watching it in the company of neighborhood souses was incomparable.
The most outspoken patron yelled at the screen, "WHEN ARE WE GOING TO TALK ABOUT FUCKING JOBS AND HEALTHCARE? All that money for Iraq instead of for OUR economy and OUR schools. AND FOR WHAT? THEY NEVER HAD ANY FUCKING WEAPONS!" Then he flipped Dubya a double bird.
Another man agreed, but asked if voting for Kerry was really any better.
"I'm a Republican, but I can't vote for this cocksucker again. Just this once, I'm voting Kerry. I'm voting for the Democrat."
Guy Number Two still wasn't sure he could do it, and said he'd probably stay home this year. Being an Anybody But Bush gal myself, rather than a Kerry fan (plus I'd had a beer by now), I couldn't immediately think of any cogent pro-Kerry arguments, so I told him he should vote anyway, but register his displeasure with the choices by writing in himself or a dream candidate or whoever.
"That's it! I'll write in myself! Mike, from the Porno Party! VOTE PORNO PARTY! A CONDOM IN EVERY KITCHEN!"
I swear, it's not usually this rowdy. The election is definitely raising the aggro level of all and sundry. I had a much higher-level conversation with the genteel mother of two who came in for a cocktail just after the debates ended.
Regardless, I can only hope some swing voters around the nation share the opinions of these disgruntled middle-aged barflies in LA. If the second guy stays home, Bush has still lost two votes, even if Kerry has only gained one.
Labels: drunken old guys
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