Despite all the reasons on this site that Kerry should be the president-elect, the majority will triumphantly made it deceptively clear that in a time of crises, stay with the warhorse — Bush cohorts saw Kerry on a donkey in midstream. Though this suggests that fear played a big role in voting, those who were content with Kerry as a leader obviously pretty much cancelled out the fear factor for Bush. Unfortunately, this will of the majority had less to do with a wartime president and more with the overriding evangelical fifth column — with the growing unconscionable Catholic vote — to chip away at the foundation of tolerance toward beliefs and lifestyles of others. Exit polls showed that the biggest motivation was owing to the paranoia red states have over the cultural divide. To them, terror and war are not as frightening as abortion and homosexuality. In face of obvious bungling of military leadership, the image of a strong leader had less to do with a commander in chief than it has with the calling of a prophet in disguise bent on leading a nation to surrender its will to a marketed Christian God. That said, it is indeed remarkable for a nation founded on democratic principles and tolerance to be shaken so irreparably by this new majority so cleverly hoodwinked, opening the floodgates of systemic oppression.

By surrendering to this new God and his apostles in the White House and Congress, the pretense of remedying the causes of material inadequacy by Dickensian faith-based programs is in reality a ploy to further the gains of the affluent at the expense of the lower-middle class. With a vengeance this new God will sweep out the Supreme Court long inured to Roe v Wade, along with securing the sanctity of marriage. Divine unilateral doctrine will continue its obstinacy in international relations, perpetuate the vagaries of war on terrorism, muddle through Iraq and in curtailing nuclear proliferation. The derailment of traditional social security is a given; further tax shelters for the affluent and tax incentives for corporations are already on the drawing board; minimum wage is history; most of all, rampant deregulation will surge.

It strikes me as weird that the supposedly rugged individualists are yet so insecure when it comes to the cultural divide. What is it they fear if they are so confident that they have strong family values? Why should they care that someone’s daughter from New York has an abortion, or a family in San Francisco has a gay son? Do they really think that these “immoralities” will infiltrate their impregnable cathedral of the good life? Why should they care that the rapper in Harlem could care less about their country-Christian music? And why are they so anti-urban — particularly in the northeast — when throughout history the great cities were the cradles of civilization? Surely Boston and Philadelphia laid the foundation of the culture and spirit of democracy while Atlanta and Charleston were preoccupied with the slave trade.

Where is the concern for the safety of our troops, when persists only pomp and flag waving in behalf of the dead and wounded over a cavalier crusade? If concern belatedly for the mass graves in Iraq justified the war, how is it there is no concern for tens of thousands that have died since the war? Where lies the common thread between unnecessary warfare and the Prince of Peace? Lastly, with Osama, North Korea and Iran gunning for us, how is it possible that cultural values take precedent in casting a ballot?

Nonetheless, and even though the majority in 2000, got no respect from Republicans, Democrats must honor for a while this extraordinary victory, both electoral and popular, albeit tainted by theocratic leanings. Perhaps with this “mandate” the president will be born but again and be guided by a purer light.