I don't know if I am feeling reckless or brave or what. I spent a lot of last evening looking at some of the threads from four years ago and felt like something should be going on here. I certainly do not want to argue but I am curious as to how people think things have gone. From what I read; things have gone worse than most of us predicted. I personally believe that another term was being handed to him. All he had to do was act like he cared and follow the advice of medical experts. But he could not. He could not even be humbled by contracting Covid himself. I was certain he was not capable of handling anything serious but did not expect a worldwide pandemic to be what it took to open so many eyes. I find myself pretty much in the same space as I was then. One moment terrified; cautiously optimistic the next.
I am nervous regardless of the outcome because I work in Downtown Portland, and riots are expected no matter what the outcome of the election is. I have to cross two rivers in order to get to work, and the bridges in/out of Downtown are popular places to congregate to wreak havoc on commuters. Steve is suggesting that I take a sick day (or two) to let things simmer down, and allow for a bit more safety for me on my commute. I wish Americans could go back to voting for the candidate that is best for our country instead of choosing between the lesser of two evils. I wish that both Democrats AND Republicans could remember what is was like to work together to get outcomes that are favorable for their constituency...compromise people...COMPROMISE!!! I wish Americans could come together and be smart/respectful by wearing their masks correctly when in public or around those at higher risk. I wish a lot of things right now...
The single strongest motivating factor known to human nature is not hunger, nor thirst, nor sex, nor even the need to breathe. It is backlash: the response to the impending, ongoing, or fait accompli loss of some perceived boon that was taken for granted. It does not have to be an actual boon (think tobacco, among other things); it simply has to be perceived as such. And the more it is taken for granted, the stronger the backlash. That is why extremists of every stripe fear and hate the Center, and do everything they can to have it perceived as the opposite extreme.
Very well stated. I have friends and family to whom I can barely communicate as they are so far left. Biden was not my first choice but I would vote for Nixon, either Bush or even Ford to get Trump out of the White House. PNT: I am sorry things are so crazy. I actually thought about you and that problem when we crossed over 2 weeks ago. Renton is a pretty safe place but I would not want to be in downtown Seattle on the 3rd or 4th. As for wishes; some semblance of sanity would be welcome.
What do you have against Ford? He was hardly an extremist. He always struck me as the most moderate President we had between Eisenhower and Clinton. And as somebody who didn't particularly want the job when he got it. Dunno why you thought of me going through Seattle (other than maybe my avatar picture being an old vacation picture from the organ loft at St. Mark's). I'm in Orange County. Where I see enough Trump lawn signs and flags in any given day to make my blood boil. The one that really gets me is the "Get on the Trump Train" flag: he's probably the most Amtrak-hostile (and generally passenger-rail-hostile) President since Nixon signed the bill creating Amtrak. Truth be told, though, after reading his niece's book, I feel nothing but pity for Donald Trump, given the family he grew up in: Fred Trump was the kind of father who could suck all the "fun" out of "dysFUNctional." (Apologies to Mary Engelbreit.)
1st: I have nothing really against Ford. I just generally vote Democrat and was listing Republicans who have been around through my adulthood. I would prefer any of them to what we have now. 2nd: Sorry I was not clear. I was addressing PNWTigger as she is in the area. I would like to feel sorry for the whole T family but have trouble with all the destruction they have wrought. At some point we must all take responsibility for our own actions. I would imagine that Fred T was equally abused by the great grandfather and on back. Hopefully, after they are out of the public eye (will that ever happen?) I will work on my humanitarianism. In the meantime; I put my hope on people unfurling a huge "YOU ARE FIRED!!" banner in front of the White House next week.
I would not mind one bit seeing Trump escorted from the White House, at gunpoint, in handcuffs, by his own Secret Service detail.
The only thing I have ever liked about television election night coverage was the theme Henry Mancini wrote in the mid-1970s, for NBC's coverage, which they used from 1976 to 1992, then retired for no good reason.
That I do not remember that specifically but I love Mancini. It has always been our tradition to watch the returns and accept the outcomes. This year I will shut off all media at 5PM PST and not even peek until around 8:30 after the polls have closed on the West Coast.
My workplace was boarded up yesterday in preparations of what is likely to happen in Downtown Portland AGAIN. We have been given permission to leave work early today as well in case protesters take to the bridges early, and we do not know if the office will be open tomorrow. I brought the dogs in today too...the ladies in my office seem to think they are an extra little bit of protection, but they forget that Jaeger would cluck like a chicken if given half the opportunity. I pray that you guys stay safe during the election craziness.
Right now I am not sure who is the biggest threat. Busses being harassed on the road, folks who will burn their neighborhood whether they win or lose, a Head Of State who encourages his *base*. We will just be sitting tight and hoping it does not get as bad as feared.
An optimist believes we live in the best of all possible worlds. A pessimist fears that the optimist is right.
Of course, whose happiness depends entirely on whether we have a Robin Hood President who robs from the rich to give to the poor, or (to paraphrase the punchline of an old Wizard of Id strip) a ROBBING Hood President who robs from the WRETCH, to give to the PEER.
