That was a very long three days. After the high hopes nurtured for months, Wednesday was a bucket of cold water. Not only did the prospect of landslide victory vanish, but the slowly creeping realization set in that Trump could pull it off again. After a long night of the soul (I heard this phrase in a podcast and really like it), Thursday morning some glimmers of hope started appearing, and it had gradually grown until Friday. It was a nail-biter for two days. Since then, it's pure elation. It's good that I never wanted to be a poet.
The first thing on everyone's mind: how could the polls be so wrong again? Were they wrong? I think this is one of those "on one hand, on the other hand" topics (Truman famously asked to be sent a one-armed economist). So, on one hand, they were very wrong. They predicted a clear and decisive victory for Biden. Instead, Biden won the states he desperately needed by the skin of his teeth. He won Arizona, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin with less than 1% of the votes. Georgia, still hanging, with a tenth of a percent. This race was very, very tight, and the result could have easily gone the other way.
On the other hand, Biden won with a historical margin of more than 4 million votes. With more votes in total than any presidential candidate ever received. In America, that would be considered a landslide if not for the States' vestigial electoral system. He even flipped some states.
On the third hand, the Democrats probably won't control the Senate and even lost seats in the House. This was clearly not the repudiation of Trumpism we hoped for. It erased the hope of a soul-searching and cleansing process in the GOP, sadly.
Speaking of Trumpism, what does this result say of the American people? In 2016, low-information voters at least had the excuse (a ridiculous one, though) that they are, well, low-informed. But after 4 years of Trump, half the country still wants more of this?! This topic merits a post for itself.
Trump, of course, to the surprise of no one, continues being Trump. He is so embarrassing that even his hard-core lackeys are eager to distance themselves from his lunatic claims. Two very funny months are ahead of us. For the first time in four years, I regret that Twitter blocks Trump's most unhinged posts. Watching the public meltdown of this smalltime, cruel, vile, and pathetic wreck is just sweet. It almost makes up for the past four years.
Beyond that is anyone's guess. Trump may try to run in 2024 again. If his preternatural stamina (his only positive trait) lasts that long. He'd be 78 then. Or the GOP may decide that although the messenger was a pain in the neck, the message sold well. It may be worth trying with a younger, less erratic vehicle of Trumpism. There are so many moving parts. Trump's behavior in the next two and a half months. The possible criminal prosecutions after. The ambitions of his family. Biden's effort to reach out to the moderate Republicans (which is what I fervently hope he'll do).
As for Biden, I think he deserves some words of praise here. Instead of the doddering old geezer he seemed to be at times, he has proven to be the right man for the right time. He is decades past his prime, he is a gaffe-machine, he already failed twice in his presidential bids. But he is the antithesis of Trump. He is a decent and emphatic man, generally liked by everyone. He is a unifier and a consensus-seeker. He is who had the best chance of defeating Donald Trump and he is what America needs today.
The opinion pieces about the still enduring problems and new mistakes, and "COVID and racism and inequality are still not over..." will start appearing soon. But now, just sit down, get a beer, turn on some right-wing media outlet, and enjoy the show.
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