"See Ya .............."

All those sensations, plus a few more, were what I experienced, when I saw that a Democratic ex-mayor was publicly supporting a Republican candidate. That support sure did give me pause. It also resulted in me chatting with other local Democrats about their responses to that same political gesture. The following, then, is some of what I heard, as well as a lot of what I thought.

For instance, what about all those speeches that this ex- gave, in which the Republican viewpoint was criticized? Were those just polished political sound bites, without any true meaning? Were the people who clapped during those speeches just a bunch of trusting fools, without any thoughts of their own?

Or, how about the money that had been donated, to help this ex- win those political races? Maybe the donors would have been wealthier in the long run, had they given the money to some local missionary group? And all those political phone calls, plus those hours of leafletting, what's a body to think, in terms of how valuable those efforts were? After all, the individual for whom these personal gifts were given, just went and supported the other side, politically.

You know, if I was a grunt, a long-time, ordinary volunteer in the local Democratic scene, I might start to doubt myself, about the political party I had chosen. I mean, let's face it. There have been a fair number of crossovers, of people who were elected as Democrats, who all of a sudden have become Republicans. There is no need to name these individuals, 'cause we all know who they are. But in any case, I might start to wonder if the unspoken message was that I too should turn party, should change my political registration?

Well, such is life; no need to get overwrought, is there? I do know, though, that the next time I read or hear this ex- making Democratic- like comments, I will be thinking to myself. I will be saying such things as: I don't believe you; I don't trust you; and I definitely do not want to lend my support to your remarks. Instead, I might start to smile to myself, and in a bittersweet, melancholic way, think, "See ya......"