Thanks for putting it all in perspective.

In its own quiet way, this may be one of your finest posts.

The final sentence makes it worthy of filing away as one of those "insights into Ace" moments for the next Blog Career Retrospective.

Perhaps I'm reacting this strongly because I agree so strongly with you. I love blogs, I love this site in particular, and I love politics, but in the end I'm far more proud of my VHS Mystery Science Theater 3000 collection (the complete first 7 seasons! All the Comedy Central years! PURE UNDILUTED GOLD.) than I am of my decidedly Republican politics. I think my political views are important, chiefly because for me they spring directly out of my ethical beliefs, but I'd rather advertise my love for early 80's post-punk than my party affiliation.

In fact, the idea of advertising anything like that always bugged me. I went to a pretty damn good college (hint: located in Maryland, and not a state school...), but I'd never dream about putting a bumper sticker on my car or even wearing a sweatshirt showing it off. The same thing with my Republicanism. If you ask me, I won't cavil - you'll get my views, full blast. But I'm not trying to push 'em down your throat.

I'm not sure this will catch on. Even the loony left has to be hesitant about wearing something that identifies your tribe as the "Losers".

I remember campaigns (particularly conventions) from my past, and I could swear I remember big, blue elephants, and little, RED jackasses.

Didn't Democrats use red, and republicans use blue at some point?

If so, who was the sneaky bastard that flipped them when I wan't looking? They're obviously backwards now, whether they were different before or not!

Ah, well, what's in a color, anyway, huh?

You don't get a gold star? Well, in Florida, or at least the part of it I live in, gives you a little sticker when you vote. All it says, though, is "I voted." There's nothing like the government for treating grown adults like little kids, I say.

I got a cookie.

And a little sticker.

Unfortunately I lost a good friend over this election, largely his choice, since he was unable to keep from tarring me with every stupid thing uttered by any republican anywhere even if he knew that wasn't my view.

Sucks, cause we agree on all the important stuff like beer and pinball and pretty girls and computers. And we can have a civil argument about weighty and important matters like wether Zappa sucks or not. But he couldn't put the damn politics away.

I mean c'mon, it's just politics, it's a bunch of deeply silly people who promise you they'll go to Washington and do deeply silly things, most of which either affect your life in adverse ways or make no fucking sense. I mean some people think the Dems are silly, some think the Repubs are evil, and rather a lot of us are starting to think that maybe loading all of 'em up on a bus and driving 'em off a cliff is sounding good.

But fer chists sake people, it's just politics. Put down the frikkin' hatchet.

Didn't Democrats use red, and republicans use blue at some point?

In the past there was a rule about alternating the incumbent party's color on the electoral map each cycle. One year, incumbent party was blue, next time incumbent party was red.

Now, though, it's become so embedded we may be stuck with R=Red, D=Blue.

I got a cookie and a sticker.

So, uh, does this mean you won't be making that crazy blog-money from Ace-o-Spades merchandise?

Red v. Blue in referring to state alignment:

http://www.georgegaskell.com/archives/2004/11/red_v_blue.html

Um, here in Florida at least blue bands meant you SUPPORTED Bush. Got mine at the Republican office and wore it all the time campaigning for the guy...so go ahead guys, keep wearing the blue bands!

I understand something like the bracelet I wear, for a soldier I want to honor, who died in Iraq in October of 2003.

I don't get the blue Kerry bracelet thing.

Maybe it's just me.

Why do they do stupid things like this? So the Trendy People (TM) will think highly of them. Why are the Trendy People (TM) into this kind of stuff? Because it's what their adoring public wants them to be. It's the world's biggest game of "I thought you had the ball?" "Oh. I thought YOU brought the ball!" "No! I thought YOU brought it?!?"

It's hard for me to say this since I'm Jewish but it sure gives weight to the New Testament, the book of Revelations in particular. Just swap out the word beast for moron and it fits perfectly. With lefties so happily accepting the mark of the moron the plagues can't be too far off.

One good thing about the bracelets, it'll be easier to identify them when it's time to do the round-up.

I didn't even get a sticker, but I did get to see the loud mouth skank in front of me get told she was at the wrong f'ing poll. She said something about a conspiracy as she went out the door.

Fortunately, I have an alternative. Anyone who sends me $14.95 (Plus $4.65 S+H) can express themselves apolitically by sporting the "Non-Bracelet".

That's right, just $14.95 (Plus $4.65 S+H) and you be the first in your neighborhood to intentionally go bare-wristed, showing your friends, family and co-workers that you don't need no stinkin' bracelet.

Ace, if you get in touch with me, we can work out a distribution deal.

And I thought the red dorsal fins were more than enough for reptillian herd identification. Then they got badges of moral hubris. What's next? Flocking together at rallies or something?

Can armbands be far behind? I mean, a bunch of these moonbats already believe in international conspiracies backed by the evil Joooooooos.

remember, not too long ago, both in the print news, (and I think) Dr Phil or oprah, or Rosie--(whoever) were talking about prepubescent girls wearing various colored bands to "advertise" their sexual experience (and presumably abilities)--
I vaguely recall seeing a pix in the story--they weren't as ostentatious or visible--but then probably weren't supposed to be--adults aren't supposed to know "the cool code" of preteens.

some 12 year old got suspended from school for wearing em or passing them out--catholic school too, I think--seems it was in New yawk city. (go figger)

so.....hhmmm that's so,...like 5 minutes ago, dude, let's go to the mall and like, hang out....

there's a key, though..prepubescent...children..hmmm

There, there, Acey Wacey..i had a cookie for you, but Oliver inhaled it...(thru one nostril--and it was a BIG cookie!) and he's NEVER gonna "stop thinkin' about tomorrow"--well at least until Soros cuts him off

Love this one!

Heard there already were Red bands, actually I think I heard from Brit Hume that one of the ladies who make the blue bands father's were selling them........go figure, damn capitalists trying to make money and all....

Oh and Dan Rather has much more in common with this foolish woman then you realize, see if he hadn't invested so much of his personal worth and being in a political party he wouldn't be in the mess he is in.
DKK

Well, BrewFan, people have been really comfortable in marking themselves as losers...especially in the political arena.

Consider all those people who like flying the Confederate Battle Flag. I grew up in Georgia, and I never got it. It seemed to me like people were glorying in what losers they were. I chalk it up to adolescent defiance... which is sad to see in people over age 21.

LOL, Sean! And, really, any moonbat willing to do this deserves to be rounded up and taken to a concentration camp. W/o the wacko element, perhaps the Dems could become a respectable party again?

I think the most dangerous part of this whole thing is the comment that this identifies your "tribe."

Tribalism reemerging in the United States. What a brilliant plan. Just look at what its done for the Balkans, the Hutu's and the Tutsi's, Iraq, and all the other parts of the world where tribalism is the 'ism of the day.'

Concentration camps.

Nice. Do you guys hear yourselves??

WHAT???????????????

Why is GOOD money being spent on this trash? Why, think of all the people in Indonesia who lost everything. And you whiners complain about the money being spent by the Great Winner George W Bush on his 2nd Inauguration. And these dorks want to waste their money on little bracelts that their friends will just laugh at?

I am spending my money on chips and some good beer while watching some great football this weekend. Something positive.

And you lefties out there who have kept your Kerry-Edwards bumper stickers. A BIG THANK YOU. I know ahead of time to stear clear of you and avoid an accident, especially you Suburu driving Oregon and California license plate bearers.

I never connected with people who went around from 1992-2000 with bumper stickers proclaiming that Bill Clinton wasn't "their" President. Sure I wasn't a fan of ol' Bubba, but that didn't invalidate the whole democratic process in America. Who you vote for for President is a personal choice, who actually wins is not.

I happened to see a bit on CSPAN today of a woman, billed as the Chairman (sic) of "Turn Our Backs on Bush" and I shut it off immediately. People have to understand that Bubba or Dubya, the President is the President. Acceptance of this is crucial to the sanity of the individual and the health of our society.

Glen

Considering the appearance of the example in the photo, and most of the other razor-challenged females of the left, what would be more appropriate: a braclet, or a collar?

Nose rings for the guys!

lauraw: I was thinking more like zoos than concentration camp. I'm sure that some DU weenies are scared to death about being carted away in the middle of the night to an American Auschwitz.

Glen: I hear you on the "not my president" stickers. I always thought that was dumb too. Obviously, he was the President of the US. If we're citizens of the US then he was our President whether we liked it or not.

To Ace: one of the best commentaries I have read - ever! And I've been reading them since the 50's. Excellent.

To Bullwinkle: "Mark of the Moron". Classic!

Well I'm a little insulted by your analysis. I guess because I am a member of the military community-active. I don't have the luxury that you are afforded by just how well the military,Rumsfeld,Ridge and the President are doing their jobs. Because of them you get to forget 9/11. But I'm slapped in the face with stuff everyday...

Voting for Bush was the best thing I did.
I thought it would be inapropriate because of my position to put a political bumper sticker on my car. BUT I get a damn fire kick out of the guys on base that said WTF and put big W's ablaze on their cars. I admired their courage and I disamired myself for rationalizing why I shouldn't have. So around this down when I see the bumper stickers it maybe the only feling of support I've had all day because a lot of my family are military hating KERRY supporters.

Go be proud of that vhs collection...

The bands makes sense. They are a logical extension of the fracture created by the Left. First, Bush was stupid, then illegitimate, then corrupt, then dangerous, and always a snickering rightist theocrat.

When your political opposition becomes evil incarnate, the garlic around your neck makes more sense.

If Jeb gets in in '08, I imagine "They Weren't MY Presidents" will be the most popular tattoos in Soho and the Castro.

I think showing affiliation does make a bit of difference, unfortunately, and the conservatives are losing at it.

The perception, especially as portrayed by the media (of course) is that left-leaning views are more widespread, accepted, and sophisticated. I can't imagine someone wearing a liberal-type button being embarrassed, but I know conservatives would be to wear a braclet of their own.

And when people only see buttons and slogans supporting one side, they start to think that's the popular and correct view.

Yes, but the downside of "showing your colors" in this fashion is the negative inference. You aren't continuing to support Kerry, but rather, you are continuing to denigrate Bush, which makes you a constant scold to those who supported Bush, a constant bore to the apolitical, and a constant fashion blight to all.

Agree, there are some sad people out there who seem to fill some empty void in their personality with politics being their identity....

It is nice to see there are less conservatives yammering everonwards about Clinton's evil penis and Neocon-spouting acolytes convinced of "vast stockpiles of WMD still hidden in a country as big as California" ................than there are liberal delusionists going into psychotherapy because Kerry lost, still socializing only with those that agree the Florida election was stolen and Bush is an unelected dictator....and 100 other liberal identity pathologies.

Kind of funny, really, that they are sporting colors to declare their political loyalties. Since it seems they are already usurping the Crips' colors, I wonder how long until we'll see Democrat legislators on CSPAN end their speeches by throwing up Donk gang signs.

And what color bracelets will you all be wearing to the impeachment?

"Soho and The Castro"? You mean "Chelsea and The Castro"...

Silly, mindless Conservatives, they even get the gay hoods of our cities confused...LOL

Clever headline! Communicates the entire essay in one sentence.

Jeff Larkin:

Actually, it's the "smirk" that repulses a lot of people, not the snickering... but that's the face he was born with, and most of us tempermentally past two have gotten used to it.

And as for theocracy, I find it amazing that those who have little or no "religion" are so afraid of a theocracy being established by Christians in this land. If a theocracy was to be established by Christians, it would have happened within the first hundred years of our history, not now. Anyone with a brain larger than a pea can study the multiple chances politicians had until after the "Civil" War to do so, but had the God-given sense not to. The cry of theocracy is a red herring, one used to mask the establishment of their own religion, that of Humanism as it is defined today.

In other words, the closest we have come to a state religion in our history is now.

And what color bracelets will you all be wearing to the impeachment?

Impeachment? You guys have to make up your minds. You seem to believe Paul Krugman's thesis that Bush will establish a theocratic banana-republic military junta and outlaw democracy, but then you twitter about "impeachment."

Paul Krugman is right, of course. I can't wait until I get to tool around the capital in a jeep carrying an AK-47 and wearing a black bandana over my face, crying out "El Jefe Maximo, Presidente para Vivo"!

It's gonna be fun.

I know this comes a few hours late, but:

LOL, Sean! And, really, any moonbat willing to do this deserves to be rounded up and taken to a concentration camp.

Uh, dumbass, my point was that the moonbats are the ones that have been acting like the real Nazis lately. Nobody fucking belongs in a concentration camp, okay?

There is no question that the Clinton era spawned a version of what we are seeing, but there are two differences.

First, in the Clinton era, the extreme behaviors and allegations were shunted off almost exclusively to to the right wing's extremist acolytes, whereas now, the extremism of the Left has been mainstreamed. Thus, you have Terry McAuliffe at the premiere of "Fahrenheit 9-11," the Democrats' 2000 nominee accusing the current administration of Gestapo tactics and Nazi qualities, and the elder statesman Ted Kennedy declaring that a war was cooked up in Texas by cronies. In short, after Florida, the Democrats let crazy Uncle Fig get to the microphones and when they heard what he had to say, they liked it. Ever since, no one has had the power or the moxie to pull them from the ramparts.

Second, no matter your view of impeachment, Clinton was clearly a wrongdoer in the most bizarre, personal and eventually debilitating of ways. This is not partisan, but rather, a statement of fact. While Democrats did not go along with impeachment, they did support a condemnatory censure which stated that Clinton "egregiously failed in this [moral] obligation, and through his actions has violated the trust of the American people, lessened their esteem for the office of the President and dishonored the office which they have entrusted to him" and resolved that Clinton "made false statements concerning his reprehensible conduct with a subordinate . . . wrongly took steps to delay discovery of the truth . . . remains subject to criminal and civil penalties for this conduct . . . has brought upon himself and fully deserves the censure and condemnation of the American people and the Congress."

While there are strenuous policy differences with Bush, there has been little out of the ordinary in terms of ethics and what has been semi-extraordinary (Plame, fudged prescription drug numbers) has never implicated the president.

Though it may all be due to the smirk. I still believe this is high school all over again for these band wearers, and George W is the C student with the winning smile, the rich Daddy, the good dates and the easy path. For geeks (essentially, anyone who would sport a band protesting a president or a banner lecturing neighbors "If You Aren't Appalled, You're Not Paying Attention"), this president is Biff to their perpetual Marty McFly.

As for Soho and the Castro, they're good spots for tattoos as body art, but thanks for the tip on the "gay hood" thing.

Jeff L - you're right about it being high school all over in many ways, but for some folks I'd say "high school still." I live in San Francisco, and the petty resentments I see and hear all the time here--directed at conservatives, red-staters, or even "yuppies," SUV drivers, people from the suburbs, people who live in the Marina, etc., etc.--sound to me exactly the same as the sour-grapes insults my burnout friends in the high-school smoking section and I used to direct at "preppies" and "jocks"18 years ago. Guess I'm probably a traitor to those kids for going over to the other side later in life, but I can't help it if some of them never grew up.

But then again, I can also understand the lingering high-schoolism in some cases. For instance, I have a friend here who's gay, and who (like so many other liberal SF residents, gay and otherwise) grew up in a conservative white-bread suburb in the midwest. Needless to say, high school was a difficult time for him, and it left him with a deep resentment for the kind of people who ostracized him, went out of their way to let him know that he wasn't accepted, and even turned (in a few cases) from junior-high friends into senior-high participants in the ostracism. That guy--and thousands upon thousands of others like him--is going to bear a lifelong grudge against Republicans, because to him, those are the people who made his teenage years miserable, and based on his personal experience, he knows that "Republicans hate gays." The fact that I'm a straight Bush voter who doesn't give a crap where anyone else puts their wing-wangs won't change his mind a bit; to him, I'm an anomaly. And I have a hard time finding much fault with his hatred of Republicans: unlike with some of the moonbats we have here, with him it's not totally irrational.

OK, enough high school. But I just couldn't let this other comment slip by:

And what color bracelets will you all be wearing to the impeachment?

Dude, your side's going to have to regain a majority of the House for that to happen, and I don't see that taking place any time soon. So cry.

Alex

I can understand the reflexive resentment, but it's unhealthy and in the end, no different than a Vietnam Vet who gets older and still hates Asians, or a mugging victim (where the perpetrator is black) who thereafter compartmentalizes all blacks into the single criminal package.

Folks can carry with them whatever bizarre prejudices they want, and some may even seem more reasonable once we see a root. But in the realm of politics, such prejudices are toxic to ones' own political goals.

Even in victory - and the Democrats will taste victory sooner than I'd like - after this lapse into madness, how will they craft a coalition for their causes (say, for example, including sexual orientation as a protected status under Title VII) when they have labeled the same people whose support they might need something otherwordly, ignorant and unclean?

That was me.

Dude, it's CoL0RZ! Once you got the bracelet, then you get the coat (Dallas blue) and a do' rag sez "Born to Lose." Get down with the bLU kRu. Then some Red Shirt Friday one of us reThuglikkkan crackers caps your ass on g.p. Screw this, I'm wearing khaki.

To Paul B in FLA and Ace:

You are correct. In this past election cycle, all Bush/Cheney bracelets were Blue, nationwide. I was a team leader in my part of the state of FL, and devoted about 200 hours to the campaign. I bout about 50 of the blue bracelets that say Bush/Cheney, complete with a star and an elephant. The back of the thing says "RIGH HAND ONLY!" and "www.momentumsm.com" (no that is no misprint).

The Kerry/Edwards bracelets were red, nationwide.

All GOP volunteers around the US gave out and/or sold these things in every campaign office, period. So not only are these moonbats pitiful losers, they're idiots to boot. The blue bracelets immediately identied you as a B/C campaigner or supporter, and the red ones marked you as a communist (OK, that's a joke).

Ace, the only reason why I even mentioned your name in this post is simple. Your analysis was brilliant, and again made me laugh to the point of whatever resided in my gullet to come out of my nose and onto my screen.

Thanks, again, for soiling my computer.

Loser tags for Mhore-Ons...

The self-delusionary are identifying themselves... useful... and illustrative.

Because of course the divisive culture in America has nothing to do with these Loons.

I agree, that woman should not be associated with America. She should stay our of the country . . . forever.

Hey, weren't those bracelets supposed to signify the sort of kinky sex act you were willing to perform?

Ace

In tribute to your blog I'm printing this post and will wear it like a headband to let people know which blog I support.

Remember this, LOSING IS FOREVER!

Some electoral votes were mistakenly cast for a John L. Kerry.

Hmmmm, what does "L" stand for ? I dunno, but maybe, just maybe "W" stands for winner in this case.

The ultimate explanation of the psychosis of modern liberalism is articulated in Thomas Sowell's "Vision of the Anointed".

Ace Rock-Shocks the Mic Yo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I could understand wearing a political bracelet during the campaign season, but when the election is already over--and you LOST... well, that is pretty pathetic.

Especially when you consider the fact that the person in this article isn't proud to be an American. Hell, even if Kerry had won I'd sill be proud of my country if not the president.

What's next, the "I'm proud to be a traitor" bracelet?

Most lefty activists I know don't have a real life. They are consumed by petty matters such as these bracelets and how much they hate Laura Bush. They're never going to win thinking in terms of constant hatred. Yet they seem stuck in the hatred frame of mind.
I was heartened to read in the latest City Journal that many college students are starting to question the lefty indoctrination they receive in college. Tenured lefty professors love to beat up on their right leaning students. Now the students are learning how to hit back.

Whether it is the pink ribbon on the lapel, the yellow Lance Armstrong wristband, the "Don't Blame Me I'm from Massachusetts" bumper-sticker, or this new blue wristband, the message is all about the wearer and never about the cause. "Look At Me! Aren't I (choose one): Clever, Smart, Generous, Mature, Other!.".

Great post. The good news is that this will make it easy for the rest of us to know who to steer clear of.

Ace, your comments sections have been blowing UP lately. Any thoughts as to why? I'd *LOVE* to get a fairly regular 50+ comments on posts. Sheesh.

Oh yeah, forgot to add: I wear the Lance band as my mother's a cancer survivor, and one of my best friends had childhood leukemia, and I donate fairly serious money every year for cancer research. If you want to label me as being "trendy/cool/clever" - that's your loss.

:) Have a great Sunday folks.

Sean - uh, ... I was ... uh, joking? I *got* it. Sorry, I had found the irony amusing. (dumbass.)

How about this......if you see one of those wrist bands just grab it between two of your fingers, step back a foot or two, let it go. When the person squeals like a little piggy just mutter "Pussy!" and walk away.

Or better yet. When you see one of those wristbands, red OR blue, just tell the person "Hey, I have one of those. It makes a dandy cock ring"

I guess I deserve that, Carin. I oughta be a little more temperate with my remarks in the future.

These will be a big help to me. At least I will know who I can speak logically to and who hasn't a clue. Like Bill Engvall says, "Here's your sign!"

The thing about conservatives is, we're conservative in non-political ways too.
It's the rare car that has a rear end liberally papered with right-wing bumper stickers.

And conservative protests or rallies are usually pathetically small.

I'm not saying we're the whole Silent Majority.

I'm just saying that the skewed polling data this last cycle did not really surprise me. I would avoid pollsters, I am sure that other conservatives would too.
When I am in a group setting and there are lefties there, I know it within a few minutes, because they are usually proselytizing loudly.

The conservatives treat the lefties with polite disinterest, pretending to be apolitical. The way you would entertain a batty 90 yr-old uncle who tells you that the Jews are to blame for everything wrong in the world ("...is that so...wow, that's very interesting. I didn't know that. Hey, did you try the stuffed mushrooms?).

Well, when you consider how much of left-wing politics is made up of identity politics (you are your group affiliation), it's really not much of a surprise.

It ain't always the left doing it, though. It's the same kind of thing that gets people to tie up their self-esteem to the success or lack thereof of the local ball team. As a Clevelander, I learned not to do that fairly early as a survival measure. ;-)

It's to the point now that if someone knows your politics, they think they know everything about you, at least if they are a lefty. Civility in politics is gone, let them have their junior high school-esque clique association garb, the rest of us have better things to do.

Great post, ace

Conservatives, of course had their Nuremberg rally moments during the campaign, of course, as organized by Rove/Goebbels. The question you have to ask yourself is which effort is grassroots, and which is organized top-down by autocrats increasing corporate control over our public space, our bodies, and our lives?