Louis L'Amour was right: You can't stop a man who knows he's right and keeps on coming.
This strangest of the strange election season ended in a way that I never dared to believe it would, even in this year of unparalleled Blessings.
My neighborhood is the deepest blue heart of the beast yet I noticed the pronounced lack of yard signs. I didn't place any meaning in that: I know all my neighbors voted for Hillary, despite their distrust of her. Republicans can be scared away from supporting their candidates by the merest whiff of ancient impropriety but not Democrats: they're a well trained army who understands what's at stake. I never did see a single yard sign or bumper sticker for Trump. No one wants to get egged, keyed or firebombed.
I voted in the morning, on my way to the shop for my weekly meeting. There were very few folks in line: I was done in under 10 minutes. It was like an off year election, not at all like the lines a hundred deep when Obama first ran.
I put no weight in that, either.
I spent Tuesday in radio silence. I didn't want to hear, see or think about election results. Like Schrodinger's cat, hope was alive until I peeked in the box. I spent the day praying for the resolve to accept what was coming and live with it.
Faith isn't believing that everything will always go your way; faith is having the strength to carry on when things don't.
I was mentally prepared NOT to break into tears or set fire to anything when Hillary Clinton became President of the United States of America.
The Republicans had their chances in 2010 and 2014 and they shit the bed. They're done.
I successfully avoided any news of the looming disaster until around 9:00 pm, when I happened to peek into the porch where Jay was smoking a (soon to be illegal everywhere) cigar and watching returns. He gave me a thumbs up.
"What's happening?" I blurted before I could stop myself.
"He's kicking her ass." He responded around his cigar, like Winston Churchill or Groucho Marx, whichever is your cup o tea.
I slammed the door and turned away. This was going to be hard enough without getting my hopes up.
I had a painting class first thing in the morning so I went to bed.
I was awakened when Trump took Pennsylvania. Jay was shouting that he'd won. I got up and looked at the tally on the TV; he was still shy of 270.
"He hasn't won." I pointed out. "The whole west coast is still out and you know she'll contest every state that's close."
"There aren't any close ones!" He celebrated. "He's got it!"
"Has she conceded?" I asked. "Then he doesn't have it."
I went back to bed.
An hour later, she conceded.
I got up to see his victory speech. It was far better than I'd expected: no bragging, no self aggrandizement; instead the blowhard of Manhattan was gracious, humble and inclusive. He ended with "I love this country so much!"
When was the last time we heard our president (elect) express such sentiment?
The evening proved all the experts wrong on everything. Not only did Trump win, he had coattails: Republicans held the House and Senate and did very well in the States.
Huh.
Maybe having the balls to speak the truth has some value in American politics after all.
Despite my overwhelming relief, I did feel a moment's pity for Hillary. Her entire career since Wellesly has been dedicated to one goal and it just slipped forever beyond her grasp. (Ain't never gonna be president now! ) She put up with a lying, cheating husband who habitually humiliated her for the sake of their political futures. She covered for him in ways that only a besotted, love sick fool or a hardened, calculating, thoroughly committed ideologue could have the stamina to stomach. Which do you think she is?
Back in the '90s, everyone agreed that she was the real brains behind the Clinton political machine; that Bill never would have gotten elected if not for Hillary. That's true. She enabled him every step of the way: forgiving his 'indiscretions' while demonizing the women he cavorted with, consensually and otherwise. If she hadn't been willing to defend him at the expense of her own continued humiliation, he never would have been reelected Governor of Arkansas much less President of the US.
On the other hand, she managed to become a multi millionaire while acting as a servant of the people and I believe Harry Truman (D. MO) who said the only way to get rich in politics was to be crooked.
My pity was fleeting.
Teach her how to say goodbye, say goodbye so the nation learns to move on
it'll outlive her when she's gone...
Now we're being treated to the 2000 redux of "Hillary won the popular vote" meme from the media, in order to invalidate the election. The popular vote is as meaningful as the fact that the Cleveland Indians scored more runs in the World Series than the Cubs. But baseball fans know perfectly well that its games, not runs that matters. Apparently some Democrats aren't as smart as your average baseball fans, which is one of the many reasons I don't feel like giving them more power over our lives.
I've said since he won the nomination that Trump was less dangerous to the Republic than Hillary because he'd face opposition and be held accountable. I've said for years that if you want the press to act as the watchdogs they're supposed to be, rather than a shield behind which our ruling class can act with impunity, you must elect Republicans to office. Good, bad or indifferent, at least the press won't spin and cover for them.
James Comey demonstrated what I'm talking about this summer when he told the world that yes, Hillary had broken the law and jeopardized national security for her own selfish purposes but she was above the law, so move along.
Just in case you didn't get it the first time, he did the whole charade again this last weekend.
We got it.
Things I've learned from this election cycle:
1) the 'experts' don't know shit
2) we, the people, still hold the power in this country
3) there is an end to how much we'll put up with from our political class.
I have no idea if Trump will be any good as president. I look forward to the political lampooning he'll be subjected to in the next four years. But we've just elected a Federal Government that will be held accountable to both the people and the law.
That's a great thing, whether you realize it yet or not.