How much time do you think it was from when the polls began closing on Election Day 2020 to the moment Joe Biden was declared our next President of the United States?
LESS. THAN. FOUR. DAYS.
For those of us who felt really desperate to hear this news, and at last count that number was close to a record 75 million, it felt like just less than FOUR. YEARS.
And that is because…IT. WAS.
When Joe Biden officially becomes our 46th POTUS on Jan. 20, 2021, that’s when you will hear the final collective sigh of relief. But for right now, the almost 75 million of us will just have to satisfy ourselves with one collective exhale.
And a good night’s sleep.
Say goodbye to junk food, Nate Silver and even Steve Kornacki at the Big Board. He needs his sleep, too. (Note: If you’re unfamiliar with Kornacki’s Khakis or obsessive Kornacki Watch, well, here’s a link to get you started).
It’s amazing the indulgences we humans choose and the indignities we humans can get used to, isn’t it? When I told one of the many doctors I manage to still go to for check-ins that I was beginning to wonder whether my obsessive addiction to this election and its results has any real point to it he asked me how it made me feel? To which I said:
Actually, it’s strangely calming. If the apocalypse comes, I can warn people in advance and try to figure something out for myself and the people I love.
To which he said: Well, then it’s not a problem.
Nor was binge eating junk food in those super intensive last two weeks really an issue for any of us. No two weeks of putting any kind of crap into your body will likely kill you. Heck, some people can do it for 74 years. Just look at ….
Okay, I promised myself I wouldn’t mention HIS NAME so I’m not going to. Mostly because –
WE DON’T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT HIM ANYMORE!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, yes, I know. He’s not gone yet and there are a couple of more months where anything can happen. But while we’re exhaling, can we also take a few moments to just feel good about ourselves???
The first WOMAN in our almost 250-year history – not to mention the first WOMAN OF COLOR during that time – has just been elected VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
That’s Kamala Harris.
Not to mention, do you know she is also the FIRST DEMOCRAT FROM CALIFORNIA IN U.S. HISTORY to ever be elected to one of the two top jobs?
You’re welcome, America.
We have also lived to see another brilliant woman of color responsible for spear heading the dismantling of the death grasp the Republican Party has on the throat of the Old South when it comes to presidential elections.
That’s Stacey Abrams.
It was her persistence and dedication to voting rights and voter registration after she lost her 2018 race for governor due to voter suppression that was key to flipping GEORGIA BLUE just a couple of nights ago.
I mean, if that had been me I think I’d just about be crawling out from under my covers by now.
Which brings us to our President Elect.
I’m old enough to vaguely remember when this balding young guy who just got elected to Congress found out his wife and daughter were killed in a car accident that also badly inured his two young sons.
I also remember my young self thinking:
That’s one of the most horrible things I’ve ever heard! This guy’s life is toast. Oh my god, how can something like that happen????
Which was the same moment Joe Biden turned to the universe and said, Um, not so fast.
See, it’s not an accident at this time (and in this year) he became president after a near half century of public life that included TWO unsuccessful runs for the White House.
After four years of hysteria and desperation, he is about the ONLY politician in the country who could collectively move and inspire us simply by proclaiming to a small crowd of our fellow citizens in a Delaware parking lot, during a pandemic, things like:
- We Won’t Lead by the Example of OUR POWER but by the POWER OF OUR EXAMPLE…
- THE ONE WORD THAT DEFINES AMERICA IS…POSSIBILITY.
And
- KEEP THE FAITH…then… SPREAD THE FAITH.
Yes, somehow these were the very words we all needed and longed to hear.
See, when you talk about how you’ve lived, and the principles that have worked for you, you don’t need to insult your enemies, lie to your supporters or indulge in the LONG CON in order to get them on your side.
All you really need to do is tell the truth.
Could you have imagined that as THE winning strategy last week at this time? Can you even imagine four years of it???
Yes we can.
Mama Cass – “New World Coming”
notes from a chair 