Choosy mothers choose riffs

I'm not gonna spread for no roses!

U.S. politics and elections: It's just like being on The Bachelorette! You get to choose from an all-male, mostly all-white cast, hoping against hope that you end up with the least sleazy one in the bunch.

Or at the one who is less likely to be brought up on criminal charges during your brief time together.

Better luck in 2016, y'all.

* * *

* * *

I had another odd dream last night. I dreamt I was overseas trying to call home to the U.S., but the call wouldn't go through. I kept getting the same message over and over again: "The number you have reached has been disconnected or is not in service at this time."

Funny. Just like many of our voters and elected officials.

* * *
 

How you can bring the economy back from the brink and finally get a national healthcare bill passed and yet be pilloried and shunned by your own party is something only the Democrats could manage.

Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory once again.

* * *

Everybody, at least in the American media, keeps talking about the takeaway from yesterday's election as being all about big money and its impact on democracy.

I can't really disagree with that, but for me, there's another, equally worrisome takeaway. And it's this: You lose the presidency, don't control the Senate, but own the House of Representatives until our candy-ass Democrats can bother to challenge Republican gerrymandering of congressional districts after the next census. You do not want to compromise with the party in power. You only want what you want.

Later, you lose the presidency, now control the Senate, and continue to own the House of Representatives. You now say you want to compromise, but really? How stupid do you think we are?

Yes, I know a grand portion of our electorate just proved that we're mighty mighty stupid, able to shoot ourselves in the foot and the head at the same time (gotta love our those no gun controlling ways!). But do give us a little credit: We know you are not about to compromise now.

Perhaps in the future you will win the presidency again, control the Senate, and own the House. And you still won't want to compromise.

I really don't know how you do it. It reminds me of that old slogan about the South losing the Civil War but winning the peace, being humiliated on the field of battle yet someone controlling domestic politics and race relations through, first, segregation, then later, institutionalized racism and uber-conservative, anti-social safety net policymaking.

Really, it's childish and transparent, easy to see happening yet horrible to watch. And yet you manage to do it again and again, and no one ever does a damn thing about it.

* * *

It's 9:53 p.m. Eastern the day after the election, and I've already yelled my first "STFU Mitch McConnell!" at my TV.

Courage, comrades. It is going to be a long two years until the next election.