dijamo's picture

    Top 5 methods of dealing with political disillusionment and frustration

    By dijamo on Sat, 06/21/2008 - 11:46pm |
    As a Hillary supporter, I've dealt with my share of disappointments this election season.  I know there are many disillusioned and angry Obama supporters right now who may appreciate some tips on working through the anger.  In the spirit of unity, here are my top 5 coping mechanisms:

    1. Fleur de Sel Caramel Ice Cream - Haagen Dazs.  Instant nirvana.

    2.  Run on treadmill with iPod set to ANGRY.  My personal faves are List of Demands (Reparations) - Saul Williams and Killing in the Name of - Rage Against The Machine set on repeat for 45 minutes (cool down to Eye of the Tiger as always :)).  Alternate with kickboxing class.  Instead of doing your usual visulaizations of the final battle scene in The Karate Kid, picture landing a roundhouse kick to Howard Dean or whomever has offended you most that day.  Bonus - this helps counteract overindulgence of #1.

    3.  Come to TPM to express your anger and outrage.  Some would say we should just bottle up my disappointments and sweep them under the rug.  I respectfully disagree. So please engage others and tell them why your so pissed.  Please note engaging in actual dialogue means acknowleding and listening to other points of view so that you can tell them exactly why they are an idiot or assacious.  Verbal body slams and jousting helps us to vent our frustrations in a positive manner.  And sometimes even in disagreement we find common ground in our core beliefs.  Makes you realize that democrats are not as divided as we tought.

    4.  Remember what this election is all about: NOT MCCAIN

    5.  After you've vented your anger & come to the realization of what's most important, go back to your iPod to the mellow songs and play Love is Stronger than Pride.

    I wont pretend that I intend to stop living
    I wont pretend I'm good at forgiving
    But I can't hate you
    Although I have tried
    Mmmm

    I still really really love you
    Love is stronger than pride
    I still really really love you
    Mm mm mm mm mm

    Sitting here wasting my time
    Would be like
    Waiting for the sun to rise
    Its all too clear things come and go
    Sitting here waiting for you
    Would be like waiting for winter
    Its gonna be cold
    There may even
    Be snow

    I still really really love you
    Love is stronger than pride
    I still really really love you
    Love is stronger
    I still really love you
    Love is stronger than pride

    Words: sade adu

    Yes, I am pissed at the Democratic party for a host of reasons and this FISA crap adds another layer of outrage, but when it comes down to it I know my party can be better than this.  The FISA vote is a betrayal, but I'll be waiting for the sun to rise after we elect a democratic president and increase our majorities in the House & Senate.  Love is stronger than pride. 

    Comments

    Might be the first time I've rec'd one of yours, and I do so without reservation.


    by MassDem (not verified) on Sat, 06/21/2008 - 11:51pm

    Love is even stronger than death: http://youtube.com/watch?v=A2RtUv_PgGA


    by codegen86 (not verified) on Sat, 06/21/2008 - 11:53pm

    Love is stronger than fear. There are only love and fear and only love is real.


    by karela (not verified) on Sat, 06/21/2008 - 11:57pm

    Fear not real?

    sigh

    Try telling that to the parents of children who don't feel pain


    by Fran (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 12:23am

    Nice. The five stages of grief (just about.)

    I am reaching acceptance, but I might have to go back to the ice-cream here and there ;D


    by Sotadeoros (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 12:30am

    You know there has to be some vintage Alanis Morrissette in that angry iPod, right?


    by Aubie84 (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 12:51am

    I confess, YOU OUGHTA KNOW, you are right :)


    by dijamo (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 12:58am

    Thanks for the rec :) Glad to know a red sox fan and a yankee fan can agree on something!


    by dijamo (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 12:59am

    dijamo. Absolutely brilliant. Thanks.

    This is how and what we all need to communicate. It's realistic, thoughtful, valid and humorous too!


    by Aunt Sam (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 1:36am

    Rec'ing the posts of people you spent primary season vehemently disagreeing with?! Unheard of!


    by demosaur (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 2:33am

    Behold the power of Unity Pony!


    by Fosberry (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 3:42am

    Great post. And there's never a wrong time for a little Haagen Daz!

    Something I tell myself when perfectionism threatens to paralyze me in my personal life is, "it doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be done."

    The goal is defeat McCain and get our country back. We'll never get it perfect, but we will get it done.

    Thanks for a good, solid reality check.


    by Phoebe Fay (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 4:09am

    McCain't! You got that right, Dijamo. (The three pillars of centeredness- hardcore tunes followed by ballads, kickboxing and ice cream...)


    by Don Key (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 5:44am

    What happened to drinking heavily?


    by quinn esq (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 6:08am

    No worries, friend.

    Got that covered!


    by Aubie84 (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 6:10am

    Phoebe Fay's is still the best avatar on TPM.


    by Aubie84 (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 6:39am

    Great post, Dijamo.

    Voltaire wrote "the perfect is the enemy of the good," a wonderful maxim to keep in your pocket if you work in politics or community organizing. Yes, there are people who, when a politician they have supported disappoints them, will stand in their perfect pool of purity and howl in outrage and declare that they will never again support that politician. Yet that attitude only serves to empower the people even more opposed to their own values.


    by Oregon Activist (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 8:46am

    Sabotage by the Beasties is notable, too


    by workerbee (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 10:42am

    er, and American Idiot

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5mjN32G1iI

    and Eminem is always good for a little rage:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOLMVQa0KD8


    by workerbee (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 11:12am

    1 and 2 shouldn't really be separate, should they? They don't strike me as either/or alternatives. Oh, you can do 2 and not do 1, but if you do 1, you'd better plan on doing 2.


    by The Commenter F... (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 1:08pm

    "Le mieux est l'ennemi du bien." - Voltaire


    by hrebendorf (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 1:32pm

    And while I'm quoting Voltaire:

    "I am very fond of truth, but not at all of martyrdom."

    Apropos, perhaps, considering Obama's recent FISA statement?


    by hrebendorf (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 1:34pm

    Hah! Didn't notice that you'd already posted the quote. So we agree then? :o)


    by hrebendorf (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 1:36pm

    Hey dijamo - I'm glad you're still around and I'm doubly glad to have you on our side cause you are a fierce fighter and I admire that tremendously.

    You go girl.


    by HusseinTenaX (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 2:13pm

    Seconded.


    by hrebendorf (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 2:19pm

    She speaks American and you speak French. How could you ever agree?


    by codegen86 (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 3:16pm

    Hey, what's up with this talking FRENCH?!

    Here in America, we expect you to talk FREEDOM!


    by Phoebe Fay (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 3:30pm

    Thanks Aubie, but I think the bunnycat's got me beat.


    by Phoebe Fay (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 3:31pm

    Not to stomp on your flowers, but love won't fight fear. Fear beats everything. Fear is what drives survival -- fear, hunger and lust. Nasty beasts we are.

    Love also helps -- better yet, make that empathy. You just can't bare to see someone go through shit. But if at the same time you see someone aiming a gun at you, you tend to think of your survival first. And your family, friends...

    I just get agitated when I hear flower-power stuff tied to politics (not dismissing it in other contexts). It's why our side has such a hard time winning. Too busy visualizing peace and shit, not busy enough actually fighting for it.


    by Bat Guano (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 4:21pm

    Let me add the most important ingredient in human survival -- logic. Logic beats fear.

    Spock out.


    by Bat Guano (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 4:23pm

    Thanks for the pep talk, dijamo.

    Rage Against the Machine is an excellent choice. Has helped me work through anger during the last 7 years.

    For a mood uplift and return to hope, I like some of the old Earth Wind & Fire (1975 was a great year for them) hits like "That's the Way of the World," "Shining Star," and "Sing a Song."


    by laurajordan (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 5:30pm

    I just want to add a song to the angry/redemptive list: This Year by the Mountain Goats (it's on iTunes).

    Chorus: I am gonna make it through this year if it kills me.

    So true.


    by burnedoutdem (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 6:18pm

    Don't forget "My favorite Mutiney" by Boots Riley (The Coup).

    Rage on.


    by killinginthenameof (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 6:29pm

    Thirded. (is that a word?) =)


    by ChronoSpark (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 6:33pm

    I love the Coup.

    Do you know their song Laugh/Love/F***?

    "and make the damn revolution come quicker..."

    F-yeah.


    by burnedoutdem (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 6:50pm

    Hey look - a thread where we're not getting spanked.

    Bad tiger.


    by burnedoutdem (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 6:51pm

    It is if you want it to be.

    Fourthed.


    by codegen86 (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 6:53pm

    Thanks to all for the welcome :) I'm sure we'll continue to have our little spats on various issues, but it's nice to be on the same team!


    by dijamo (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 8:08pm

    And in lieu of an Obama beer to toast to being on the same team, might I suggest a donation to WWW.HILLARYCLINTON.COM :) :) :)


    by dijamo (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 8:10pm

    In the spirit of unity I just wanted to give you a heads up... They eat rabbit in France, don't they? Mon Dieu!


    by dijamo (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 8:46pm

    Ah, but do they eat cats? That is the question. Chat au vin blanc, chat au gratin, that sort of stuff...


    by codegen86 (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 9:03pm

    We Can't Make It Here Anymore - by James Mcmurtry is a good one : )


    by Woodrow Stool (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 9:13pm

    dijamo--love your post as I love everything you write. fleur de sel kicks ass--I make a cone with that and the new Ben & Jerry's Cake Batter, which I highly recommend.

    as someone said above, "McCain't!" I'm a Hillary girl too but I'm a loyal Democrat and I'm glad we are all starting to come together.


    by gretz (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 9:50pm

    Yes, but on the menu it says "poulet."


    by Tankard (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 10:37pm

    Ain't no way to it but through it. Well said.


    by Scientific (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 10:52pm

    Here's what Google can do for you when searching for "poulet" (NSFW!): http://membres.lycos.fr/bs2bs/images/poulet.jpg


    by codegen86 (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 11:02pm

    Getting laid also helps. Tata!


    by KateO (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 11:11pm

    Very well said. Let's keep the big picture in mind.

    John McCain Opposed Expanded GI Bill


    by hilltopper (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 11:49pm

    !Nuff said.
    Now comes the heavy lifting
    Time to turn this world around.


    by Ramjett (not verified) on Tue, 06/24/2008 - 11:27pm

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