US Election Blog, Supplemental
After my last, brief post I made supper and went for a walk; a few things went through my mind.
The first thing was to recognise how relieved I was/am. In one sense I have no horse in the race: I’m not American and I don’t live in America. He isn’t my president. And yet I’m relieved that the majority of the American voting public have thrown 45 out. As I type, the live news feeds are showing people dancing and celebrating in the streets of America. I am very conscious that the last few days have been taken up almost entirely with waiting for something decisive to happen, and I’m hopeful that I can now focus on what I was doing before, which was writing.
The second, as I alluded to, is that 45 also received a huge number of votes, and his supporters won’t go away. I’m not bothered by people who identify as Republican and are well aware that these things are cyclical, who accept that their guy lost, but next time he or she might not. I’m more bothered by the hardcore who supported 45 in his more despicable actions and who will be looking for a more competent champion for their views.
Picking up another theme of my recent posts: one of the CNN commentators for whom I have great respect is Abby Phillip, who has been sensible and grounded in her comments all week. Then this evening, after the calling of the election, she started talking of America as the worlds greatest democracy and going back to being a shining light on the hill. Bollocks to that; that’s Team America : World Police territory. I get exuberance and euphoria after the result, but some humility and self-reflection wouldn’t go amiss.
Anyway, good news, a good night to feel relieved and pleased, then time to get back to real life.
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Music: this is Norman and Nancy Blake, celebrating the election of Roosevelt: The Democratic Donkey (Is In His Stall Again)
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