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Remember this?

If only.

Labels: 2016 General Election, Bernie Sanders

You aren't going to like this.

Maureen Dowd of the NYTimes turned her column over to her Trump supporting brother, Kevin.

He writes to all of us who wandered into the forest of the last election and got lost. Count me in.

I don't much agree with Kevin but I see his point.

Election Therapy From My Basket of Deplorables

Kevin says that I forgot the other America. The one that evidently votes bigger than me.

I have already said that it is time for a purge of the Democratic Party and the Clintons in particular. (Chelsea is thinking of running as a Representative. Please, God, Stop her! Enough already!)

I disagree with Kevin on Obama but I do see his point. I can see how a lot of people got pissed off.

Sure there is an undercurrent of racism in all this. But look, that is part of our American stream. We are all racists somehow, somewhere. The ones who are a pain in the ass are the ones who will not admit it.

The big box has been shaken and we will all land on our feet ready to do the right thing the next time out. But I am not going to weep that we lost.

I am willing to give Trump a chance. I believe in the system and the way it is supposed to work.

Labels: 2016 General Election

I know a few people who were planning on doing this.

Millions on Election Day Make a Different Decision: Not Voting

I respect people's decision to vote with their ass. I do not approve however.

Some of these people should have been supporting Clinton. Some, perhaps, Trump. I like to think that everyone I know and like agrees with me on everything.

But the part of me that had reservations about Clinton could see these side-sitter's points.

In a way, if they are filling in the "none of the above" box, then that is their right and privilege.

We are not yet compelling the vote in this country although it has been proposed from time to time.

We maintain the right to not vote. To vote with our feet. Or our asses.

It is my belief that this is one of the main factors of what happened this time.

It is clear that the Hispanic surge did not materialize. And "the blacks". Not even a bloc this time around.

Of course a lot of this is indifference rather than conviction like my friend.

It is another aspect of the American Way and one which is quite vexasious.

Labels: 2016 General Election

When fire horses heard the bell, they would be up and raring to go.

When a dog hears a whistle he runs to it.

When the geese hear the right call, they land on a specific spot.

Instinct.

There is a bit of that still inside of me.

I grew up in a political family. Well, my Dad.

He was a dyed in the wool Democrat and ran successfully for School Board and was its Treasurer for many years.

Not a stretch that I am on the Condo Board here and am the Treasurer.

Apples from trees and all that.

In Pennsylvania, even in our very small microscopic town there was a permanent election building. A small white box that had the machines inside. It was at the end of our street.

I remember going down to watch for the results.

I ran for office in high school. I remember being badly beaten for the class president election. I opted for becoming the editor of the school newspaper. Mimeographed and stapled. Every two or three months.

When I lived in Bucks County (Lower Bucks actually for those who make the distinction) I ran for something which was so dimly possible that I do not remember the office. I registered Republican so I could do it. I think they knew. And I did not campaign. Lesson learned. You have to ask for people's vote.

Then a long hiatus until we lived in Plymouth Massachusetts where I stood for member of the Finance Committee which runs the Town Meeting budgets. Does all the hearings and makes recommendations. Next step, Moderator. Then, when I came out, finally, I left the public life and that was it until we moved here and I stood for the condo board.

Of course, this election brings all the memories back most vividly. Sharpest are standing in the lobby of the Town Office Building awaiting results to be posted on a bulletin board. Nail biting time.

For candidates this is a hellish period. The last days of waiting it out. Everything that can be done has been done. It is in the hands of the electorate.

The wonderful "American way".

Labels: 2016 General Election

I went through a short period this morning wherein I actually thought the election would be this week.

And it would all be over.

But I realized that this is a result of some cosmic trick or treat prank and there is one more week to endure the exposés and contentious bullshit.

Some people think this is the most war-like General Election.

Well, I am old enough to remember Truman Dewey as well as World War Two.

This is nothing to that time.

Then, we had "communists" lurking in the corridors of Congress and the State Department. Then there was the "Fifth Column" which was the spy machine supposedly set down in our Country, Land of the Free.

We had Henry Wallace. We had George Wallace. Same last name, opposite sides of the field. Both pretty much assholes as far as I can tell.

The thing is that after the election, the waters will recede and we will all go back to the normal American debate. Land of the Free. Home of the Brave.

Do you realize how lucky we are to be born here? Sure there are Trumps and even some minor jerks on our side. But it is nothing to what goes down elsewhere. And don't talk to me about Great Britain. Or fucking Finland. No where is easy.

We have to show up.

I already voted. I am ready to sit and watch the results. I am also willing to accept the will of all the people.

I might complain a bit no matter who wins. But that is my prerogative of being born here. A basic right. I think it is even in the Bill Of Rights. Let's go look.

Labels: 2016 General Election

I have returned to the lists.

I took my time off and spent it well. Old DVDs and relaxed afternoons.

And the time off helped.

I am fired up and ready to go.

What did I miss while I was gone?

I made some notes.

For one thing, I saw Michelle Obama make the speech of a lifetime on behalf of Hillary Clinton. And also on behalf of the Obama legacy. Outstanding.

Out of the blue, Bob Dylan won a Nobel Prize for Literature. Poetry.

I bet my long-ago friend Peter is happy as hell about this. Me? I was never a fan of the obscure rattlings of the Dylan soul. But I was glad to see him get it anyway. It did not prompt me to go and listen to one side of any of his work. Yeh. I know he is a genius. I just cannot stand to hear him sing.

Some more campaigning went on. Grinding my gears here and there. Nothing special until last night's debate.

What a blowout.

Clinton was at her best. Trump at his worst.

He is fond of saying that "she has no energy" but this is his pointing the finger to others when it is his problem totally. He started big then flagged. Bloated and slow like a punch drunk fighter, he lost his mo about thirty minutes in and it never came back.

What message he had became a mess in his hands in the second half.

I do not know that the debates change any minds. Someone said "move the dial". But they sure can steel one's resolve.

I would now more like to see his ass kicked than at any other time in the campaign.

The press today is brutal.

His failure to state his commitment to the results of the election is unpatriotic. Astounding. Un-American.

He is s spoiled sore loser and a potential menace to the country.

If for no other reason, I hope for a landslide to put this whiner to rest once and for all.

A rant, huh. I guess I am ready to return.

Oh.

One more thing. Do you notice? The woman in the white suit, the man in the black. Just like the westerns. The good and bad guys.

Labels: 2016 General Election, Hillary Clinton. Donald Trump

I am about to make this a Trump free zone—Trumpf.

Trumpf Trumpf Trumpf.

And that is the end of it for me.

The guy is such a monumental asshole that I do not want him in here.

The debate last night was a "disaster".

His generalizations and outright lies tell us more about who he is than anything else he could do.

He is talking down to us.

Schooling us in the language of racism and xenophobia.

The no-nothings will stick by him I feel sorry for them because sooner or later they will realize he does not care about them. It is about his ego.

And so on. Don't get me started.

Fuck you Donald Trump and the horse you rode in on.

Labels: 2016 General Election

We watched the Veep debate last night.

The human versus the robot.

A lot of pundits this morning call it a draw or a small edge to Pence.

Frank Bruni differs and so do I.

Mike Pence's Galling Amnesia

Not amnesia, really. Outright denial of his running mates public statements and positions.

I found it very frustrating to watch. And once again, a moderator who took no strong action to harness the yakking.

The Commission that puts this on has to find a better way to run the show.

So the frustration led to trouble getting to sleep. A sort of adrenaline buzz that wouldn't go away.

The tight lipped Pence is one of those morality players who want everyone else to tow a line which only he dictates.

No surprise that Gay Rights did not enter the picture. Pence has already shown his colors on that and it would do no good for further discussion on the Democrat side.

I do not know why people think this debate was unimportant. I can agree that it was in no way decisive.

To be honest, both VP candidates are new to the national scene. Neither has a depth of experience to give confidence and clarity to their positions. That was also evident last night. They are coming up in the ranks and have a future in both their parties.

If Trump loses, as I expect he will, I hope, Pence has positioned himself as a good starter in 2020. Kaine of course will be Vice President and that is the best platform of all.

But it is pretty well understood that the VP people get lost when the next time comes around. Joe Biden for example. Too old, too exposed.

But I am ahead of myself. We have to get through this one first.

Labels: 2016 General Election

I like to read about the "money markets" in election times.

These are the places where people put their money where their mouths are. Betting on the outcome.

I know, it is not the same. But it is a partially legalized version of the old horse betting systems.

Prediction Markets Score the Debate a Rout: Clinton Over Trump

I would bet for Hillary too.

OK. I just broke one of my rules and called her by her first name.

Everyone else is including her own campaign.

In the meantime, while I do not bet real cash, I do have an imaginary stake in the outcome. Her probabilities jumped six points yesterday.

Go Hillary! Go Ms. Clinton! Win, place and show!

Labels: 2016 General Election, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton