Elana & Elena's Blog - Archived Entry

(Well, Elana, the first thing I have to say is: "Phili." Phili? Is this the hip spelling? Am I new?)

So, maybe there is a virus. It has been passed around a lot--at work or with friends or with my family or at a Driving Votes meeting. At the end of any conversation (or commiseration, very often) about politics, the phrase "Anyone but Bush! God! Whoever!" is usually spoken. Often muttered, prayerlike, sometimes shouted, and occasionally followed by a deep sigh. No, very often followed by a deep sigh.

Before the NY primary, I wanted to find a candidate who I felt I could support, could talk about enthusiastically, could fall in love with and whose pin I could wear on my underwear. I didn't find that candidate. I rubbed up against one or two, but there wasn't really any chemistry. There was something wrong with all of them. Before I knew it, I was coughing and sniffling and murmuring: Anyone But Bush. I was stricken.

Is it wrong somehow, to be angry and dissatisfied with the current leader and feel less emotional--maybe even unemotional--about the alternative? Watching Kerry speak last night, I was nervous. Is this going to work? Do I really like him? Is he going mess this whole thing up for all of us? Can I effectively argue, 527-style, "Vote for...Not Bush"? Is that a destructive attitude? Am I going to contribute to a stance that is "Not"-something, that supports, in a vague and lukewarm way just...the Other? Is that enough?

It was hard to focus on his speech. I was staring at his hair. My friend kept pointing out the sweat on his chin. The language of a political campaign is so cloudy that it becomes impossible sometimes to make out the message. Isn't everyone, ostensibly, pro-children? Pro-economy? Pro-America? Strong America? Respected in the World?

It's going to be an arranged marriage. We are not in love, but we will learn to love each other. In the end, I will support Kerry not just as the Other because Bush and Cheney have done unjust and horrible things and cannot remain in power, but because I do think, I do believe, that Kerry will have to live up to what puts him office, as the Other, to do what we want him to do, to enact the policies that we are demanding. We will have to work on this relationship. It won't end in November. Kerry and Edwards are going to have to live up to these expectations and it will be our responsibility to see that they do.

So, Elana, if we ever start to feel the symptoms of ABB coming on, let's just write KERRY on our notebook covers and cover it with hearts.