I have to say, my cynicism is a little less at this exact moment than it usually is, but on the other hand, my non-cynicism is being completely overwhelmed by, like, meta-cynicism so there's that. I'm not talking about the Republican side, obviously, but watching Barack Obama give his victory speech, there are two overwhelming immediate reactions that I can't do anything to change. I tried to soften one or both with some Rogue Chocolate Stout, but it doesn't taste as it did when I opened it 4 days ago. But a sort of aged, rotting taste is kind of appropriate for my feelings so I'll keep knocking it back.
First, this is really genuinely moving stuff. It feels a little bit like watching an old history tape, and that is because I don't think I've ever seen anyone I really believed in before. What I mean is, I used to wonder when our icon was going to come along and this is really exciting, and fun, like Robert F. Kennedy or something. I'm confused because my temperment is usually so much more muted in terms of enthusiasm. I mean, yeah, these are obvious political platitudes but jesucristo, he just really seems like he means them. I mean, this could be a simple gift of his ability to speak and convince me that he's genuine, but I'm totally buying it. All my thoughts about Richardson being more qualified or Edwards being more angry don't really matter. This is, like, a movement. Hop on the train and roll on.
Second, I am overcome with dread. This not only looks like a historical video, it looks like the part right before the candidate gets shot. I cannot seem to shake this instinct that Obama is going to get killed somewhere on the campaign trail. So, I am pretty much writing this whole thing now to try and talk myself out of this shocking sense of impending doom, but it isn't working.
Oh well. Good luck, man, but the revolutionairies never make it.
1.03.2008
1.01.2008
The Year Of The Favorite
You've got no fear of the underdog. That's why you will not survive.
Well, Britt, to this point in 2008 anyone who doesn't fear the underdog has been surviving at an alarming rate. USC thrashed the "Fighting" Illini, racking up the highest total yards in Rose Bowl History and some horrible death machine called the Georgia Bulldogs is ripping everybody's favorite accused-rapist-turned-golden-boy Colt Brennan and his once-proud Hawaii Warriors to shreds. It is, clearly, not reasonable to blame this on 2008 entirely, because it continues a horrible trend from 2007 that involved the Patriots going 16-0, the Red Sox sweeping the World Series, Real Madrid beating Barcelona and Manchester United overtaking Arsenal for the lead in the English Premier League. With the only shining example of the non-survival of the favorite in recent memory being England's horrible collapse in EURO 2008 qualifying, I think things were well on track to set us up for what must be known in the future as the New Year's Day Massacre, 2008.
I know that years changing are pretty arbitrary ideas especially in regards to trends and superstition, but I think we can all admit this is not a good omen for an election year. If Brennan and company can't manage a significant comeback in the second half down in New Orleans, I'd say we might as well put all our money in the pot that says we will be faced with a Clinton/Giuliani election. This is especially bad for me because I have been betting heavily on the Green Bay Packers. I would like to believe that this horrible trend cannot continue for very long, and there would be no better time for such a humiliating fall from grace than the Super Bowl for those hulking, cheating pricks from New England. But today's slate of college football action has got me feeling despondent and depressed.
Yes, things are shaping up to be ugly. And we have a continuous onslaught in the next week, which seems almost criminally unfair. We need time to recover from the bloodbath that was 2007, and nobody has the energy for a National Championship Game just yet, and certainly not an Iowa Caucus. Good Christ, there are meant to be two Iowa Caucuses, aren't there? This is worse than I thought. No rest for the weary, on one hand, but I will be soaking up whatever there is to soak up in Central America very soon and that's the only hope I have. I will be missing the NFL's Conference Championship games and I'm hoping not to see the scores until I come home. Actually, now that Georgia added another touchdown to make their lead 31-3, I might not even want to know after that. Fuck all if it's New England-Dallas. And fuck-all if Roger Clemens wriggles out of this steroid mess, and Hillary Clinton gets elected President. Ahhhhh, hell, why don't we just give the Oscar to Steven Spielberg right now?
I hope it's just paranoia or a horrible ignorance of sample size concerns, but I have a genuine fear that 2008 will be the Year Of The Favorite. I think it might be best to try and stack the odds in your favor as soon as possible. No need to worry about the Hawaii Warriors, compadre. Our posts are safe.
Well, Britt, to this point in 2008 anyone who doesn't fear the underdog has been surviving at an alarming rate. USC thrashed the "Fighting" Illini, racking up the highest total yards in Rose Bowl History and some horrible death machine called the Georgia Bulldogs is ripping everybody's favorite accused-rapist-turned-golden-boy Colt Brennan and his once-proud Hawaii Warriors to shreds. It is, clearly, not reasonable to blame this on 2008 entirely, because it continues a horrible trend from 2007 that involved the Patriots going 16-0, the Red Sox sweeping the World Series, Real Madrid beating Barcelona and Manchester United overtaking Arsenal for the lead in the English Premier League. With the only shining example of the non-survival of the favorite in recent memory being England's horrible collapse in EURO 2008 qualifying, I think things were well on track to set us up for what must be known in the future as the New Year's Day Massacre, 2008.
I know that years changing are pretty arbitrary ideas especially in regards to trends and superstition, but I think we can all admit this is not a good omen for an election year. If Brennan and company can't manage a significant comeback in the second half down in New Orleans, I'd say we might as well put all our money in the pot that says we will be faced with a Clinton/Giuliani election. This is especially bad for me because I have been betting heavily on the Green Bay Packers. I would like to believe that this horrible trend cannot continue for very long, and there would be no better time for such a humiliating fall from grace than the Super Bowl for those hulking, cheating pricks from New England. But today's slate of college football action has got me feeling despondent and depressed.
Yes, things are shaping up to be ugly. And we have a continuous onslaught in the next week, which seems almost criminally unfair. We need time to recover from the bloodbath that was 2007, and nobody has the energy for a National Championship Game just yet, and certainly not an Iowa Caucus. Good Christ, there are meant to be two Iowa Caucuses, aren't there? This is worse than I thought. No rest for the weary, on one hand, but I will be soaking up whatever there is to soak up in Central America very soon and that's the only hope I have. I will be missing the NFL's Conference Championship games and I'm hoping not to see the scores until I come home. Actually, now that Georgia added another touchdown to make their lead 31-3, I might not even want to know after that. Fuck all if it's New England-Dallas. And fuck-all if Roger Clemens wriggles out of this steroid mess, and Hillary Clinton gets elected President. Ahhhhh, hell, why don't we just give the Oscar to Steven Spielberg right now?
I hope it's just paranoia or a horrible ignorance of sample size concerns, but I have a genuine fear that 2008 will be the Year Of The Favorite. I think it might be best to try and stack the odds in your favor as soon as possible. No need to worry about the Hawaii Warriors, compadre. Our posts are safe.
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