The problem with all the jokes is that Bush won. And while Michael Moore claims that it was the narrowest margin of victory for a sitting president since Woodrow Wilson, he won resoundingly. He carried more than 50% of the popular vote. Republicans picked up seats in both the Senate and House and knocked off Tom Daschle. 11 states voted to ban gay marriage. etc. etc. etc. It was not a good night.
In the next 4+ years Bush is likely to pick the next Supreme Court Chief Justice, institute a de facto draft to combat the quagmire we (yes we) have created in the Middle East, continue to deride civil liberties while smirking about a State of Constant Terror, assault the environment in the guise of energy independence, continue to throw $ at his once and future buddies, and all the while claim to be a uniter not a divider.
And a majority of voting Americans voted for him.
We should laugh. We should wonder who are those "other" Americans (us). But jokes and incredulous smugness will not change a thing.
I don't know how to change things, but I do know that every time I heard Kerry try and out Bush Bush, I cringed. I do not challenge that tactically Kerry had to do what he had to do. And if Kerry was close, Dean would have been annihalated. Nader wasn't even a gadfly.
But the problem, I think, was not spineless candidates and a sheepish, blind electorate. The problem is that there was no ability to speak truth to power in this past election.
How do we create a climate of discourse in the face of such overwhelming certainty on all sides?
We have 1460 days to try and figure this out.
Let's Get Serious. No More Bush Jokes (Like These)
President Bush was visiting a primary school and he visited one of the
classes. They were in the middle of a discussion related to words and
their meanings. The teacher asked the President if he would like to lead
the discussion on the word "tragedy".
So the illustrious leader asked the class for an example of a
"tragedy".
One little boy stood up and offered: "If my best friend, who lives on a
farm, is playing in the field and a tractor runs over him and kills him,
that would be a tragedy."
"No," said Bush, "that would be an accident."
A little girl raised her hand: "If a school bus carrying 50 children
drove over a cliff, killing everyone inside, that would be a tragedy."
"I'm afraid not," explained the president. "That's what we would call a
great loss."
The room went silent. No other children volunteered. Bush searched the
room. "Isn't there someone here who can give me an example of a
tragedy?"
Finally at the back of the room a small boy raised his hand. In a quiet
voice he said: "If Air Force One carrying you and Mrs Bush was struck by
a "friendly fire" missile and blown to smithereens, that would be a
tragedy."
"Fantastic!" exclaimed Bush. "That's right. And can you tell me why that
would be tragedy?"
"Well," says the boy, "It has to be a tragedy, because it certainly
wouldn't be a great loss and it probably wouldn't be an accident
either."
George Bush's Debate notes
Canada is the one up there; Mexico is the one down there.
One plus one is two, two plus two is four, and anything bigger than that is "fuzzy."
People from Lapland are called "Laplanders," not "Lap Dancers."
There is no need to say that you are in favor of statehood for Hawaii.
The Hague is the location of the World Court, not the Food Court.
The correct address is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
"Egregious" means bad. It does not mean "agrees with Regis."
Thomas Jefferson was a president of the United States; George Jefferson was the guy married to Weezy.
There is no branch of government called "the digestive branch."
In the middle of the debate, try to avoid saying, "I could sure use a nap right 'bout now."
If they ask you what book you are reading, do not say "That really long one about history and junk."
The president of Russia is Vladimir Putin, not Boris Badenov.
There is no such thing as a Midwest peace process.
Always remember to say, "I'm not sure I agree with my opponent on that issue" and not "All those long words he's using are really making my head hurt."
Topics to avoid: Texas budget deficits, why Saddam Hussein is still in power, what you did between graduating Yale and being elected governor of Texas.
It's East Timor, not East Jesus.
Do not say, "I can't believe I'm missing 'Smackdown!' for this."
Diana Ross is not now -- nor has she ever been -- a member of the Supreme Court.
Remember, it's Dick Cheney, not "that old bald guy Dad made me pick."
When in doubt, smirk.
The problem with all the jokes is that 
