blog (January, 2004)
pioneer on the plain
I went to see Fahrenheit 9/11 last night, and attended the Kerry/Edwards rally in d-town Cleveland this afternoon. Came for the sensationalism and stayed for the fluff and clapping.
I am a Democrat only by registration.
In line for the rally, a bald, moustachioed man in front of me giraffed his head around the shoulder of the man just up from him, and petitioned the other's thoughts on John Kerry's choice of John Edwards as running mate. The questioner didn't wait for the assent that came, but hurriedly gave accordance and produced his own opinion. A short while later he asked the same question of the older, impatient woman behind me, who approved as well. She was quick to turn away, though, and continue searching out a hiding place to stow the umbrella she wouldn't be allowed to bring inside.
I tried to -- and then not to -- prepare for my turn, which I saw coming from miles away. With every slight twist of his head toward me, he triggered a radar blip.
What would I answer? What do I know about this stuff? What do I care about these particulars?
Exasperated, I finally inched forward to blunder into interception, unprepared but unwilling to prolong an inevitability.
He caught my eye and, excited at another opportunity, clucked "So, what do you think of Edwards? Think he's a good choice?"
"Um, well, from what standpoint? I mean -- as a possible Vice President, or for enhancing Kerry's electability?"
He stared.
I goofed down my misguided course, "Like, I'm just voting Democrat as a kind of compromise anyway."
"A compromise? Oh, for Nader?"
"Well, I don't know."
"Oh, for Bush?."
And he intoned it like a question, but turned away from me like it was a statement, and a final one at that.
My mind grinded to bind together words denying such a pronunciation and endorsing an idealism and zeal that supersedes the imperfect silliness of these "leaders". But I got hung up on the fact that self-unheeded, these are pretensions, and silently dropped my words all over the sidewalk, like when I try to carry too many groceries in from the car.
This bald, moustachioed man found a diversion in the vendor approaching with $5 (or 3-for-$10) buttons depicting Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld as the "Asses of Evil".
I am a Democrat only by confusion.