Post-Election Good News…

current events, democracy, election, government, Joe Biden 1 Minute
Image courtesy of Chicago Tribune

IT’S OFFICIAL: JOSEPH ROBINETTE BIDEN, JR., IS NOW THE 46TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

There will be much discussion about the meaning, trends, and implications of this election, and the results were not without disappointments. But it’s too soon for all those debates. At this point, I’m simply offering my top-of-mind list of what I perceive to be the positives for our country.

WE NOW HAVE AN EXPERIENCED, STEADY, CALM, COMPASSIONATE, HONEST LEADER WHO BELIEVES IN SCIENCE, IS DETERMINED TO TACKLE OUR MOST DIFFICULT CHALLENGES, IS PREPARED TO HELP US REENTER THE WORLD WITH DIGNITY, AND HAS VIEWED THIS ELECTION AS THE BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF THE NATION AND THE URGENT NEED TO BRING OUR PEOPLE TOGETHER.

WE HAVE RID OURSELVES OF DONALD TRUMP AND ALL HIS BAGGAGE. (Determined to emphasize the positive here, I’ll refrain from enumerating the damage he’s done–and is likely to continue trying to do.)

WE HAVE A BRILLIANT, CHARISMATIC, HIGHLY ACCOMPLISHED, HARD-WORKING, WARM BLACK WOMAN OF INDIAN HERITAGE AS OUR VICE PRESIDENT. Thus, we have finally joined many countries worldwide in electing a woman to high office.

WE CAN BREATHE A SIGH OF RELIEF THAT OUR DEMOCRACY, THOUGH BATTERED, REMAINS INTACT.

WE CAN EXPECT APPOINTEES TO TOP POSITIONS WHO ARE WELL-QUALIFIED AND DEDICATED TO THE PUBLIC GOOD.

WE CAN ASSUME THE GOOD CAREER PEOPLE WHO ARE SO IMPORTANT TO OUR GOVERNMENT’S FUNCTIONING WILL BE REVITALIZED, RATHER THAN DEMORALIZED.

WE CAN ONCE AGAIN HOLD OUR HEADS UP HIGH ON THE WORLD STAGE, NO LONGER NEEDING OR RECEIVING THE EMPATHY, SYMPATHY, BEWILDERMENT OF OUR FRIENDS, RELATIVES, AND BLOGGING COLLEAGUES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.

The noted historian John Meacham said this week: “Close elections produce consequential Presidencies.” This is a hopeful time for renewing our quest to become the country of our ideals.

Annie

Published by annieasksyou

I've been a nonfiction writer for many years, exploring diverse topics that pique my curiosity, as noted in my first blog posting (Greetings!). I'm seeking dialogue with others committed to joining me in this exploration, sharing my conviction that different views can be exchanged in a respectful, civil discourse where we can learn from one another and be agreeable, even when we disagree. These postings depend for their enrichment on your participation: your ideas, insights, knowledge, opinions, and personal stories.

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51 thoughts on “Post-Election Good News…”

  10. I’m feeling exhilarated, encouraged and hopeful. Happy days ARE here again, and today we can sing that song in the true spirit for which it was written!
    Much hard work ahead 🇺🇸.

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    1. Freddy: I didn’t know if/when you’d get to this post, so I was planning to email it to you. I dedicate the closing to you, my friend. So appropriate to have Barbra here, as she’s been a stalwart with her political voice as well as her soaring voice!

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  11. What a relief! Finally, sanity prevails. I watched James Cordan do a rhyming montage of Trumps presidency the other night and was reminded of how much drama there has been over the past 4 years. Here’s to normalcy again!

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      2. Yes; made me teary. And they managed to stage a darn good party in this COVID time.

        The country is having what one commentator called “block parties” in city after city. Another said people are acting the way people do when they’ve been freed from a dictatorship. Much truth in that. We’ve been freed from the personification of hate and anger. Now we have to figure out why so many people voted for him.

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      3. Yes, that concerns me too…..the 69 million? In fact, I’m bewildered by it? May I ask you a question about your voting? Is there a choice for Biden or Trump on your ballot, or are you only voting for the Democrat or Republican in your district? Are those Senate positions also on the ballot? It’s my understanding of a brief glimpse I got at a bloggers PA ballot (which she managed to mess up and had to go stand in line to get corrected) that it is listed as a seperate choice for president. So would it still be possible for someone who votes Republican to vote for their local Republican of choice on the ballot, and yet vote for Biden for the presidential choice? I’ve seen so many Republicans being interviewed by saying well I don’t like Trump’s behaviour or morals etc but I like his policies…or the Republicans policies. I myself could NEVER vote for someone I didn’t respect as a person, let alone a politician, so I’m puzzled by it all. This may sound like a stupid question, but here in Canada we don’t vote for Trudeau or the Conservative leader, their names are not on the ballot, we vote for the person (Liberal, Conservative or NDP), in the riding and the party who wins the most ridings, their leader becomes PM, but their name is not on the ballot.

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      4. Hi Joni.. retired government teacher here. In US elections the ballot is usually set up in a grid. Across the top are the positions being voted for. President.. Senator..House of Representatives…judges. On the left hand column are the political parties. Dem, GOP, Working Families, etc. So you have a grid and in each box is the name of the candidate . For example: Under the President on the Dem line would be Joe Biden/ Kamala Harris (They cannot be separated). You then vote for each candidate individually. We have no way to vote for all of one party. Each individual position is voted on separately. So I can vote for some Dems and some GOPers or third party people if I want to.And many people do. For example, in Georgia the GOP Senate candidate had more vote, but Biden had more votes for president…. You have a parliamentary system, in which the party selects leader so you vote for the party. We have different concept, vote for the individual at the highest level…. oops.. just saw this was already answered by Annie..oh well….

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      6. Thanks Joseph! Yes, I recall the ballot I saw, although I could not read it as it was not a good picture, as being like a grid and there was a lot on it. So it is possible to split your vote. The issue with our system here is you can’t really split out whether someone voted for the local person, who might have done lots for the area, the party, for ex. if they have been a Liberal/Conservative all their lives, or the leader. Many people don’t like Trudeau, but we’re stuck with him as he’s the Liberal leader. We also have 3 parties which splits the vote, but the NDP never get into power, but are sometimes useful for propping up a minority government, so they have some power in a way. If Trump decides to run again in 2024, I can’t see the Republicans backing him, too much controversy and drama, but if he runs as an independent (if he has the money and that is possible?), then it will split the vote, if he still has all those loyal supporters four years from now.

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  15. Joni: our ballots contain the names and parties of each individual running for each position. So regardless of how a person has registered, s/he will have the choice not only of Biden or trump for President, but also several other options who may have qualified in that state: Libertarian, Socialist, etc. The same is true for Senatorial and Congressional candidates and others, such as Freeholders , judges in some places, etc. We also had Board of Education candidates on our ballots.

    So yes, a person may split one’s ticket and vote for people from different parties for different positions. There are also ballot questions that can be important.

    When the final vote is tallied, the difference between Biden’s totals and trump’s will be considerably greater, I’m fairly sure. It’s that Electoral College relic that gives greater weight to a handful of states—but Biden’s wins in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania may have changed the impact, I hope.

    If you have any other questions, I’m happy to answer them.

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  17. This post was my take on the good news, Frank. I think we’re aware of the numerous challenges we face. My efforts to retain my own health are to focus on the things I can control—while not denying the possible hazards ahead. We did, after all, complete an election despite foreign interference, vast misinformation, blatant voter suppression, and a demagogue-in-chief.

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    1. It’s still so creepy, Matthew: cowardly Republicans lying in support of that awful man. It’s a dangerous time here. Fortunately, our President-elect has such inner strength and confidence that he’s responding with calm and humor. My admiration for him continues to grow. But I feel so bad for him that his former colleagues (and friends) in the Senate are passing their congratulations to him through Senator Chris Coons, Biden’s Delaware friend, because they’re too afraid to do so publicly.

      Thanks so much for your support. We’ll get through this.

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  20. My Congressman (Tom Reed NY 23) was the Trump chairman for western NY n 2016 and 2020. Very conservative. He came out with a statement that Biden has won the election and it is time to recognize that. I am kind of pleasantly surprised.

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