Five Stages of Bush defeat.

What are you guys going to do when Kerry gets totally stomped in the election?

We are about to witness the rapid disillusionment of our republican friends. I urge each A2K liberal to be understanding as this will undoubtably be a difficult time for many of our conservative members.

Over the next several weeks, our conservative friends will be experience the loss of a well-constructed fantasy world. They have been so sure they are on the right side of a world with stark definition of right and wrong.

As their leader, who they have ascribed a divine mantel of righteous might is not only defeated, but shown to be a rather impotent buffoon, they will lose this fantasy and its security.

This loss of indentity is a real loss that will lead to legitimate feelings of grief.

As you see the republican members of our community exhibit these behaviors, please be understanding. The biting anger, vitriolic attacks and unbelievable claims are really just natural psychological human responses to a inevitable tragedy.

I offer the work of Dr. Kubler-Ross who developed the "five stages" of grief.

Stage One
Denial, shock, and disbelief. Feeling of numbness. The inability to accept what has happened and insistence that no change has taken place.

Stage Two
Anger that the situation could occur, possibly directed to others.

Stage Three
Beginning to accept the reality of the situation, but trying to 'bargain' for a bit more time , whether through expressions of religious belief or increased compliance with conservative punditry.

Stage Four
Depression, characterized be feelings of hopelessness and despair about what has already been lost and what else will be lost.

Stage Five
Acceptance of the loss, and quiet discussions of defeat with closest friends and relatives. An emotional reprieve from negative emotions. Feelings of peaceful resignation about one's own fate. Lack of interest in, and withdrawal from, the everyday affairs of life, such as political affairs, social events, news stories, and so on.

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Several A2K members are clearly in stage one.

We have seen recent posts about how Bush "looked good" in the debate, and how he won "on substance". Many are also talking about the war going well.

We are starting to see signs of step two -- anger.

I expect to see very religious posts in a few weeks (stage 3) followed by expressions of negative feelings of hopelessness (stage 4).

Let's be understanding.

AWESOME!!!! EBROWN Thank you for that expression. If the majority of the swing voters are intelligent and not blinded by propaganda, we may very well win this vote. I think the best thing would be to encourage our peers to realize how important voting is. Being a first time voter and intelligent, it was invigorating to hear Kerry. Busch seems like a puppet.
LONE VOICE: I agree we need to see STAGE 6.

One can only wonder how many more innocent Iraqi men, women and children, along with U.S. troops, need to die before neoconservatives finally recognize how horrible conditions are in Iraq right now.

Two-faced, double-standard, no essence liberals. This is why you guys are no longer in charge of any branch of government in this country.

If you libs were true to your beliefs, you would have nominated Dean. But your obsession with power is so strong, you nominated a guy who has to pretend he is a hawk to get elected.

Pathetic......

Stage Two
Anger that the situation could occur, possibly directed to others.