Barack Obama is indeed having a peculiar effect on people. Leopards are changing their spots all over the place. I'm witnessing changes in attitudes I never would have expected in 1,000 years.
Here's an example. Circa November 4, 2004, I was exchanging e-mails with a big-time George Bush, Jr. supporter. Here are some excerpts from his correspondence:
O.K.! You and Maureen Dowd can stay the course and let’s just see what happens in 2006 and 2008. So go on with the rest of the disenfranchised bloggers while the rest of us enjoy our growing portfolios and 401Ks...
God, I hope the liberals continue the same diatribe you seem to be stuck on. It will guarantee that Conservatives may win five more senate seats in 2006 -- no more filibusters! I also hope you back Hilliary "Rob `em" Clinton in 2008. Just what the current Democratic Party needs, another liberal from the Northeast!...
You guys just don't get it! May the Democratic Party stay on its present course, with its present message. Hey, why don't you recycle Al Gore along with Dean; didn't Al support Dean? And stay on that "Bush lied" theme, it may work for you in 2008!...
Losers, all.I held onto that e-mail for four years, salivating for the day I could reply in glorious victory. That day came this past Tuesday. After Barack Obama's historic speech in Grant Park I hit reply and wrote:
"Thanks for the advice to stay the course back in 2004. It worked out beyond our wildest dreams. 'Losers all?' Back at ya in 2008!"
The next afternoon, predictably, I got a reply. The reply itself was not all that predictable:
Now that I am in my "golden years", it might surprise you that I voted Democratic...You were totally right about the failed policies of the Bush administration. I'm anxiously awaiting my middle class tax cut and I can't wait `til we stick it to Big Oil and the pharmaceuticals. How long will it be before our party brings those outsourced jobs back to the good old US-of-A? Screw NAFTA (sorry Bill Clinton)! I hope we have a national "Support Our Troops" day when the 82nd and 101st come home from Iraq in January. I bet Osama Bin Laden is shitting himself now that we are going to shift our focus from the failed Bush Iraq strategy to capturing him in Afghanistan.Yes, both of these e-mails were written by the same guy. They came from the same e-mail address, anyhow; I'm not entirely sure I'm not talking to a gang of hackers playing with my mind.
Bob Dylan was right, the times they are a-changin', and maybe more so than he could have imagined. We'll look at another turnaround on Wednesday.
EDIT: Looking over these old e-mails again, I had to highlight this about face:
2004"I won’t have to depend on Social Security and I don’t want my children carrying a burden of those who don’t make the effort."
2008"In five or so years I may cash out and go on Social Security so I'll want the enhanced Medicare and drug prescription plans (knee replacements, blood pressure pills and Viagra)."
