Sports, Politics and Magical Thinking
Or why I'm not rooting for the Giants to win the World Series.
I want to. I want to so much. It will mean so much to my City and lots of my friends, including my buddy Ivan. The joy will be amazing. I remember 2 years ago when I was walking down 18th from Castro Street during the last game and it was one of those true moments when you really feel part of a community. Just incredible. The town went nuts....
And the next day was Election Day 2010. There were some bright spots here in California (JERRY BROWN!) and there in New York (Andrew Cuomo!) but as a whole it was a DISASTER for the Democratic party, for the country and the President's agenda. Just an absolutely horrific nightmare of repulsive gloating wing-nuts for DAYS.
I've had this magical thinking problem where I correlate sports and politics, going at least back to to 1992, when I felt like Bill Clinton was magically connected to the Niners. When they won a game, he'd win primary and then in general, he'd have a good polling day when they won.
Now let's be clear about this: I know this is insane. I know there's absolutely no connection. BUT I feel like there is. FWIW, I also feel like we're going to lose the election anyway. If I had to believe the polls when the wing-nuts were saying they were all wrong and skewed for Obama, then I have to believe them now and something really horrible is happening out there. I refuse to buy into the Obama=Carter meme, because I don't think Jimmy Carter was in any way a bad president (just an unlucky one) and I think Barack Obama is an AMAZING one.
Barring the most incredible October Surprise ever, the magic just isn't there this year. There's too much Republican voter suppression in too many states. Racism. Homophobia. Islamophobia. Economic Anxiety. The scummy, evil, tea-bagging, Breitbart-worshipping bastards are playing the game too well. And Romney is the perfect front man because there are still people who should know better saying-IT WON'T BE SO BAD. Yes, it will, it will be worse for women and minorities anyone who isn't Rich, Straight and White than you can ever believe.
So, if I'm sure this disaster is fore-ordained anyway, why am I taking it out on the poor San Francisco Giants?
Because I can't help myself. I just know that if the Giants win the series, then Obama will definitely lose the election.
I want to be wrong so badly. (And I am someone who LIVES to be right.) I want every single one of you to be able to PM me on November 7, when the Giants are the World Champions AND President Obama has been re-elected, and say: I TOLD YOU SO!!!!
Right now, I just don't believe it will happen.
I want to. I want to so much. It will mean so much to my City and lots of my friends, including my buddy Ivan. The joy will be amazing. I remember 2 years ago when I was walking down 18th from Castro Street during the last game and it was one of those true moments when you really feel part of a community. Just incredible. The town went nuts....
And the next day was Election Day 2010. There were some bright spots here in California (JERRY BROWN!) and there in New York (Andrew Cuomo!) but as a whole it was a DISASTER for the Democratic party, for the country and the President's agenda. Just an absolutely horrific nightmare of repulsive gloating wing-nuts for DAYS.
I've had this magical thinking problem where I correlate sports and politics, going at least back to to 1992, when I felt like Bill Clinton was magically connected to the Niners. When they won a game, he'd win primary and then in general, he'd have a good polling day when they won.
Now let's be clear about this: I know this is insane. I know there's absolutely no connection. BUT I feel like there is. FWIW, I also feel like we're going to lose the election anyway. If I had to believe the polls when the wing-nuts were saying they were all wrong and skewed for Obama, then I have to believe them now and something really horrible is happening out there. I refuse to buy into the Obama=Carter meme, because I don't think Jimmy Carter was in any way a bad president (just an unlucky one) and I think Barack Obama is an AMAZING one.
Barring the most incredible October Surprise ever, the magic just isn't there this year. There's too much Republican voter suppression in too many states. Racism. Homophobia. Islamophobia. Economic Anxiety. The scummy, evil, tea-bagging, Breitbart-worshipping bastards are playing the game too well. And Romney is the perfect front man because there are still people who should know better saying-IT WON'T BE SO BAD. Yes, it will, it will be worse for women and minorities anyone who isn't Rich, Straight and White than you can ever believe.
So, if I'm sure this disaster is fore-ordained anyway, why am I taking it out on the poor San Francisco Giants?
Because I can't help myself. I just know that if the Giants win the series, then Obama will definitely lose the election.
I want to be wrong so badly. (And I am someone who LIVES to be right.) I want every single one of you to be able to PM me on November 7, when the Giants are the World Champions AND President Obama has been re-elected, and say: I TOLD YOU SO!!!!
Right now, I just don't believe it will happen.