I worked at the polls on Tuesday for 9.5 hours. My state of Vermont was the first state to be called for Harris/Walz and all of New England a few midland states nd the west coast seem to be following suit. But the nation as a whole certainly appears to have let us down, and let all the world down as well. I am actually shocked and heartily sorry. Fascism has come to America and we shudder to think what comes next.
A friend wrote me a note to say:
“Feeling dread. But deepened resolve to lose heart and to keep working for good.“
I imagine she meant to say “to *not* lose heart and to keep working for good” but I found her exact wording to be more our reality and somehow more comforting. We will lose heart yet continue working for good. We will support one another however we can, encourage the good, and be a conduit of love in a fraught time. History repeats itself. Sigh. But we will be steadfast.
Huffpost has called Pennsylvania, and the election, for Trump. AP agrees. It looks like the US is in for four very bad years. I had planned to withdraw from politics if Harris won but I don't know what I'll do now. It's hard to imagine taking anything resembling an active role four years from now, at age 92, but it's equally hard to imagine allowing Trump to be reelected. And yes, if I understand correctly, he is eligible.
He can only serve two terms total....that is, unless he changes the law. Which he kind of promised to do when he said we'd never have to vote again. The Republicans have the WHite House, the Senate and the House as well as the Supreme Court. Politics is done with us.
If Trump in fact wins, I expect that he will decay into a wobbling bowl of fat and be removed from office. Vance is probably more dangerous.
On a personal note, our daughter can pass for White, but my wife cannot; we will have to be more careful. And there are quite a few Sikhs in this area, who will probably be subjected to increased violence, both because they are obviously "different," and because ignoramuses think they are Moslems because the men wear turbans. I think I will apologize/sympathize with a random Sikh man whom I encounter while shopping. Probably an older man. -----Alan ----Alan
A Sikh custom [law?] is to offer food to anyone who visits one of their temples. I remember hearing of how the Sikh temple in Stockton fed large numbers of people during the great depression.
^^^^^Alan (who also remembers his mother's story of a neighboring family that managed to scrape together enough money for a hundred pound sack of beans; that was their food for the winter.)
Yeah, the Left Coast and the Northeast and a few midland states like Illinois still understand why democracy matters. My heart goes out to Renee and Demetrius and Susan, and all good people surrounded by red tonight. Every time I think of something more ... Ukraine ... climate change ... Social Security ... dictators ... I just feel the horror all over again. This is bad on so many levels!
Inflation, job losses and health care too; the Biden administration had made good progress with those. Pulled off a soft landing for the economy--- kiss that goodbye. Even if the state courts do their jobs, that would leave Vance in place. ----Alan
With the R's getting the White House with immunity, Senate, House and Supreme Court, our only recourse is military coup. That's out of my hands, however, so I will simply do my best, day by day, to be a light.
Democracy Is Not Over [Click] “Trump’s reckless venality is a reason for hope. Trump has the soul of a fascist but the mind of a disordered child.” —Alan
Trump Won Over Young Men [Click] Appears to be a large swing; but continued support from that demographic could be another matter. ——Alan
Paul Krugman: “Don’t ask whose fault this was. Plenty of time for second-guessing and recriminations. Ask instead, what can you do? For my part, that means telling the truth as I see it, as long as I can. The media will be under a lot of pressure to toe the line; don’t capitulate in advance.” —— Alan
Minor sigh of relief: The 22nd amendment limitis presidents to two terms, not two consecutive terms as I had thought. Trump will not be eligible in 2028.
Meanwhile, how much stagflation are we going to see?
Plenty, I expect. Probably on the order of the Viet Nam War era and thereafter. And it will again be up to the next Democratic administration(s) to fix it. ------Alan
You both seem to think our democracy will still be intact in four years and that there will be another election. I'm not so sure. DT did say that we'd never have to vote again.
Yes, I do think democracy will survive. It very well might not if Trump had the sort of power he sometimes seems to think he will have -- the sort of power a corporate CEO comes close to having -- but he won't. Constitutional checks and balances and democratic traditions are just too strong.
I appreciated Kamala Harris saying today that though this seems like a time of darkness we are all like stars bearing light in it.
Then I found this: “In some spiritual interpretations, Ursa Minor [the Little Dipper] represents the idea of finding your path and staying true to it, even when the journey seems difficult. The constellation serves as a reminder that, like Polaris [the North Star], we can all find our way if we keep our eyes on the light that guides us.” [As you probably know, Polaris is the star that doesn’t move all year, while the rest of the stars circle around it. It is found on the end of the Little Dipper’s handle.]
“One Sunday morning in the spring of 1932 I was hiking through the Rhine Valley” is the opening line of a story by Thomas Merton about his escape from the Nazis. The story continues:
* While hiking on a quiet country road near Koblenz, Merton was approached by a car driven by six or seven young Nazis.
*The car was approaching quickly and Merton instinctively jumped into a ditch to avoid it.
*From the ditch, Merton saw the Nazis screaming and shaking their fists, inviting him to vote for Hitler on election day.
This is exxactly the sort of violence I anticipate in the near future in America. In fact, I just read about an 18 year old in Florida who recently wielded a 2ft machete at two women, ages 53 and 71 who were holding signs for Harris.
Dear Ones,
ReplyDeleteI worked at the polls on Tuesday for 9.5 hours. My state of Vermont was the first state to be called for Harris/Walz and all of New England a few midland states nd the west coast seem to be following suit. But the nation as a whole certainly appears to have let us down, and let all the world down as well. I am actually shocked and heartily sorry. Fascism has come to America and we shudder to think what comes next.
A friend wrote me a note to say:
“Feeling dread. But deepened resolve to lose heart and to keep working for good.“
I imagine she meant to say “to *not* lose heart and to keep working for good” but I found her exact wording to be more our reality and somehow more comforting. We will lose heart yet continue working for good. We will support one another however we can, encourage the good, and be a conduit of love in a fraught time. History repeats itself. Sigh. But we will be steadfast.
Be strong and of good courage. ✨🕯✨
Huffpost has called Pennsylvania, and the election, for Trump. AP agrees. It looks like the US is in for four very bad years. I had planned to withdraw from politics if Harris won but I don't know what I'll do now. It's hard to imagine taking anything resembling an active role four years from now, at age 92, but it's equally hard to imagine allowing Trump to be reelected. And yes, if I understand correctly, he is eligible.
ReplyDeleteHe can only serve two terms total....that is, unless he changes the law. Which he kind of promised to do when he said we'd never have to vote again. The Republicans have the WHite House, the Senate and the House as well as the Supreme Court. Politics is done with us.
DeleteIf Trump in fact wins, I expect that he will decay into a wobbling bowl of fat and be removed from office. Vance is probably more dangerous.
ReplyDeleteOn a personal note, our daughter can pass for White, but my wife cannot; we will have to be more careful. And there are quite a few Sikhs in this area, who will probably be subjected to increased violence, both because they are obviously "different," and because ignoramuses think they are Moslems because the men wear turbans. I think I will apologize/sympathize with a random Sikh man whom I encounter while shopping. Probably an older man.
-----Alan
----Alan
A Sikh custom [law?] is to offer food to anyone who visits one of their temples. I remember hearing of how the Sikh temple in Stockton fed large numbers of people during the great depression.
Delete^^^^^Alan (who also remembers his mother's story of a neighboring family that managed to scrape together enough money for a hundred pound sack of beans; that was their food for the winter.)
DeleteAll I can say is that I remain proud of the Left Coast, the largest contiguous area to go for Harris. I'm too old to leave the country. -- nordy
ReplyDeleteYeah, the Left Coast and the Northeast and a few midland states like Illinois still understand why democracy matters. My heart goes out to Renee and Demetrius and Susan, and all good people surrounded by red tonight. Every time I think of something more ... Ukraine ... climate change ... Social Security ... dictators ... I just feel the horror all over again. This is bad on so many levels!
DeleteInflation, job losses and health care too; the Biden administration had made good progress with those. Pulled off a soft landing for the economy--- kiss that goodbye. Even if the state courts do their jobs, that would leave Vance in place.
Delete----Alan
With the R's getting the White House with immunity, Senate, House and Supreme Court, our only recourse is military coup. That's out of my hands, however, so I will simply do my best, day by day, to be a light.
Delete"I'm too old tp lleave the country." My thought, too.
DeleteHuffington Post and AP have called it for DT, and CNN is very close as well.
ReplyDeleteIt's utterly horrific.
It looks like Harris will not make the mistake that in my opinion cost Gore the presidency--- conceding before the votes were counted.
ReplyDelete-----Alan
Guardian: Kamala Harris to concede today [Click]
Delete—Alan
Several links at one go:
ReplyDeleteDemocracy Is Not Over [Click] “Trump’s reckless venality is a reason for hope. Trump has the soul of a fascist but the mind of a disordered child.”
—Alan
Stock Market Surges After Trump’s Win [Click]
Also: Trump Victory Reverberates Through the Markets [Click]
Makes no sense at all to me. But stock and bond yields soar as prices fall and vice versa.
—Alan
Trump Won Over Young Men [Click] Appears to be a large swing; but continued support from that demographic could be another matter.
——Alan
Paul Krugman: “Don’t ask whose fault this was. Plenty of time for second-guessing and recriminations. Ask instead, what can you do? For my part, that means telling the truth as I see it, as long as I can. The media will be under a lot of pressure to toe the line; don’t capitulate in advance.”
—— Alan
Paul Krugman has a rarely matched knack for saying what must be said. -- nordy
Deletecontrol of House remains unclear [Click]
ReplyDelete—Alan
Still true late Wednesday afternoon and probably for several more days.
Delete"If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher." -- Lincoln
ReplyDelete-- nordy
Minor sigh of relief: The 22nd amendment limitis presidents to two terms, not two consecutive terms as I had thought. Trump will not be eligible in 2028.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, how much stagflation are we going to see?
Plenty, I expect. Probably on the order of the Viet Nam War era and thereafter. And it will again be up to the next Democratic administration(s) to fix it.
Delete------Alan
You both seem to think our democracy will still be intact in four years and that there will be another election. I'm not so sure. DT did say that we'd never have to vote again.
DeleteYes, I do think democracy will survive. It very well might not if Trump had the sort of power he sometimes seems to think he will have -- the sort of power a corporate CEO comes close to having -- but he won't. Constitutional checks and balances and democratic traditions are just too strong.
DeleteBefore leaving office I expect that Biden will expend every penny yet approved but unspent for support of Ukraine.
ReplyDelete-----Alan
I certainly hope so. But it won't be enough.
DeleteDT took monies for military bases, schools, etc. and used it for building portions of his border fence.
Delete------Alan
Joe Blogs video: RUSSIA - (b)Utter Disaster as Economy Spirals [Click]
ReplyDeleteInside Russia video: Putin Admits For The First Time That Russian Economy Is In Crisis [Click]
——Alan (Who had recently seen other videos of butter being secured in Russian grocery stores.)
I had a meeting so am now about to listen to Harris' speech. =Heaviest Sigh Ever=
ReplyDeleteI appreciated Kamala Harris saying today that though this seems like a time of darkness we are all like stars bearing light in it.
DeleteThen I found this:
“In some spiritual interpretations, Ursa Minor [the Little Dipper] represents the idea of finding your path and staying true to it, even when the journey seems difficult. The constellation serves as a reminder that, like Polaris [the North Star], we can all find our way if we keep our eyes on the light that guides us.”
[As you probably know, Polaris is the star that doesn’t move all year, while the rest of the stars circle around it. It is found on the end of the Little Dipper’s handle.]
Jack Smith is in talks with DOJ about ending federal cases against Trump.
ReplyDeleteWe not longer live in a just society.
“One Sunday morning in the spring of 1932 I was hiking through the Rhine Valley” is the opening line of a story by Thomas Merton about his escape from the Nazis. The story continues:
ReplyDelete* While hiking on a quiet country road near Koblenz, Merton was approached by a car driven by six or seven young Nazis.
*The car was approaching quickly and Merton instinctively jumped into a ditch to avoid it.
*From the ditch, Merton saw the Nazis screaming and shaking their fists, inviting him to vote for Hitler on election day.
This is exxactly the sort of violence I anticipate in the near future in America. In fact, I just read about an 18 year old in Florida who recently wielded a 2ft machete at two women, ages 53 and 71 who were holding signs for Harris.
OT--- it was something of a struggle, but I got our new wireless router working. Will return the old one tomorrow.
ReplyDelete------Alan