There is a new challenge for
Americans.
Now, that’s not supposed to be a shocking
line or a lead-in to really, really want to read this. There is ALWAYS a new challenge for
Americans. And British. And Russians.
And Nigerians. And . . .
But neither can we ignore a new
challenge initially. We have to decide if
it’s worth fussing about.
Joe Biden won the election. That’s a fact, not an opinion. The chances of a successful election
challenge are vanishingly small. This
fact presents a number of challenges, the first of which is how we deal with the
fact that Biden won and what everyone can learn from the (possibly) mistakes
made previously.
2016 featured two main reactions,
depending on which side you were on.
Many mouthy Democrats screamed “not
my President,” had marches, and vowed to oppose with every fiber the success of
Trump. The Democrats largely didn’t
listen to their own moderates – Sen. Manchin comes to mind – that all Americans
should want the new president to be successful.
The anti’s followed through for four years, blocking progress, upholding
pointless points and generally being nasty.
At the same time, many mouthy Republicans had a delicious bacchanalia of
schadenfreude, as they replayed the horrified reactions of Clinton supporters
and the press at Trump’s win. Reps delighted
in reminding Dems what Obama said in 2008, “Elections have consequences,” and
silently mouthed “Nyah, nyah.”
It’s still VERY early in the
2020-2021 change of administrations, but we can feel the same spirit. Only – to quote Joe Friday – the names have
been changed.
Many mouthy Republicans are starting
to scream “not my president,” have marches and vow to oppose with every fiber
the success of Biden. Check. The Republicans aren’t listening to their own
moderates, that all Americans should want the new president to be successful,
and plan on following through for four equally longs years with blocking
progress, upholding pointless points and generally being nasty. At the same time, the Democrats are starting
to enjoy their own delicious turn at schadenfreude, as they replay horrified
reactions of Trump supporters and Fox News.
Again, Obama’s point comes through: “Elections have consequences.” A prominent Democrat, the Representative from
Queens, NY, vows to identify and thoroughly marginalize the Trump supporters,
donors and voters. (Hey, let's concentrate them and . . . no, wait 'til later.)
In both elections, the harsh words
and actions were supported by sincere beliefs:
After all, the other guys are WRONG and EVIL.
I’ve read that 276,000 votes made
the difference in the election to get to the 270 in the electoral college. NOBODY can claim a mandate. Johnson crushed Goldwater in 1964 with 61% of
the vote. But Johnson – a proud Democrat
and an even more proud American – knew better that to ignore the 27 million who
voted for Goldwater. Johnson had power, but not a mandate.
So the challenge is, Do we replay
2016 over again? Or might we come
together, even though the last time the other side didn’t come together? Do we “wait til next time” and vow to right
the wrongs or vow to “continue to conquer”?
I really think that’s exactly what
we do. Sorry, right now, Americans are
too dumb to do anything that will to form a more perfect Union, establish
Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote
the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our
Posterity. Screw posterity, we have payback
to give and wooden shoes in the machinery of society.
Mizzpah. But until we meet again, do keep your powder dry.
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