A couple of weeks ago I was lying in bed
thinking of the conference I had just attended and the subsequent post on these
pages that would evolve from that. Then
this terrible thought struck me: NOVEMBER EIGHTH?? Holy Cow!
It appears that this time round I had certainly pulled the short straw.
I was
in denial for a while. Collectively, the
American nation has been strapped into the back of the car crying for release,
certainly on the point of vomiting, and constantly asking, ‘Mommy, are we there
yet?’ or, more plaintively and pertinently, ‘When the hell will this…be
finished?’
My daughter just told me not to expect a
large readership today anyway—which is what I actually hope for. Why?
Because we’re all so sick of these two candidates, and we are all so
nonplussed by what and who they seem to represent, let's just vote and get it done with. Some of us may be thinking, ‘I can’t possibly
vote for either’ while others will think, ‘that person will definitely get in
so why bother,’ and yet others will feel they just have to let someone else
decide: neither candidate is worth their
time. And all of them, IMHO, may be
right.
But political liars and cheaters are nothing
new. Ever since George Washington
pronounced, “I cannot tell a lie; I cut down the cherry tree” and went on to
charge the newly formed US government his rather enhanced expenses, Presidents
have been both politically incorrect and incorrectly political. One definition of political is: chiefly
derogatory relating to, affecting, or acting according to the interests of
status or authority within an organization rather than matters of principle. Even Honest Abe Lincoln acted in such a manner.
And then
there have been the extra-marital affairs of which we now know. That list is long and lasting. But will we forgive Kennedy and FDR, to name
but two, and not Bill Clinton? Does the
stretch of time make a President more affable and us more forgiving? Or is it pure and simply a matter of having
so much crammed in our faces via internet and telecommunications? Soooo…do we just know too damn much about the
present two candidates? Has ‘PRESIDENTIAL’ character just always
been an illusion?
Whatever
the answer to that question, we remain, to all intents and purposes, a
democratic nation, and voting is our privilege and our right, germane to
democracy. So please, whatever your
feelings on the matter, whatever you feel about those two candidates, get out
and vote for one or the other.
Keep
democracy alive.
And when
you’ve cast your vote and have a spare moment or two, find out more about me
and my books at
Twitter: @andidowning
https://twitter.com/AndiDowning
15 comments:
Fantastic post, Andi! I just got done arguing with my husband (I'm too annoyed to call him anything slightly endearing right now) because he said he might not vote. "What's the point? They both stink."
After I called him a name that has something to do with a donkey's behind (yes, I stooped to mudslinging so early in the morning), I said, "Stop being so lazy. Pick your poison." He grudgingly agreed to meet after work to head to the polls. And he better not stand me up.
Those talking heads on television warned us from the get go things would definitely be down and dirty this political season. ALL of the candidates certainly didn't disappoint. And I mean that with my tongue planted firmly in my right cheek. Or is it the left? You decide. Difficult as it sometimes is, my husband and I wouldn't even consider NOT voting. EVER. It's what we as Americans do. Who we are. Too bad your definition of political rings so very, very true, Andi. Onward, none the less.
On a brighter note, guess what? I get to post on November 11th. We all know what that means. ;-)
Great post, Andrea. I just want today to be over so we can watch TV without cringing over political ads. I've said before, if all the money used for campaigning was given to the country, the national debt would be paid. Maybe. Looking forward to what happens next.
And I get to post on the 10th!
Vote: Let Freedom Ring! Leah, you are the heroine amongst us. We need every vote...those down-ballot issues are vital. I'll be up late tonight. We're going to grill steaks; I'm buying a nice red wine to go with it.
Leah, I'll be waiting to hear if your hubby shows up. The good news is,apparently, more voters have registered and more voters have taken advantage of early voting, than ever before.
Margo, having lived abroad for so many years with the difficulties of long-distance voting for NYS before me, I now delight in going to the local school and casting my vote. The first time, when they still had the lever machines, was nerve-wracking. Now it's those paper fill-in-the-circles and push through the machine votes. I wouldn't think of not going, either.
Diane, you're so right--the money spent is totally out of proportion to the needs of the country. Just what comes through my mailbox is a disgusting amount. There's one guy, a local politician, who I simply will not vote for based on the amount of garbage I've received from him.
Rolynn, why aren't I invited? OH, yes--I don't eat steak, but the wine would do me nicely...
We're heading out to vote soon. Great post, Andi. Yes, our history of presidents has been varied and, at times, comical. Dangerous, too, I suppose. I just hope the right one gets voted in. But how will we know???
I plan to vote, and I expect the best. I'm also looking forward to having the nastiness over. Those down ballot votes do matter. Get out there and make your voice heard!
Vonnie, the one thing Americans never seem to consider is how we look abroad. I first lived abroad when Nixon was in office--oh, the questions I got asked back then. Then there was Reagan and I was hammered with 'how can a B movie actor become President of the free world?' Clinton was difficult with the Monica Lewinsky stuff, and all I can say is, I'm happy to be here under the covers with all this going on!
Comical, yes...
Jannine, do you really believe the nastiness will be over after the elections? I'm afraid I don't. Truth is, it may turn out that we haven't seen anything yet. I do hope I'm proved wrong.
Andrea, by nastiness I mean all the political commercials. Those will be over. As I mentioned yesterday, if my Facebook feed is still full of vituperative ranting, I'm going to start unfriending. I'm sick of looking at those posts. So, I guess my hope is the nastiness won't be in my face on a daily basis anymore.
I know I'm an insufferable optimist, but Diane mentioned all the money spent on the campaigns...on signs, ads, clerks, etc. Lots of these folks are artists, from graphics to speech-writing. They got paid well...and the money stayed in the U.S. Even the 'art' of speaking to voters to encourage them to go to the polling places...some of them were paid. Just saying...those are paid jobs and granted, some of those artists played fast and loose with facts, but that's what I do everyday, too.
Enjoyed your post, Andi. I voted early to avoid the crush today. It always seems the current election is full of negatives but there hasn't ever been one without the downside. I remember the hubbub over Kennedy being a Catholic. I was a kid, and couldn't see what the big deal was. As far as philandering and less than honest maneuvers, it's the norm for the high-powered sector (my opinion anyway). Goldwater wrote a book that named names and it's been going on long before modern times. I agree with whoever of you pointed to the Internet and our ability to just know more about the candidates. Nothing is sacred, especially a celebrities private life. Reporting is not reporting unless you can dish the dirt. I chose the lesser of the two evils in my opinion. Now, I hold my breath. Because, honestly, I don't think America is coming out of muck with either of them. If I think about it too much, I get depressed. I think I'll go escape in writing my latest novel!!!
Ah, gotcha, Jannine--my mailbox here will empty out, too. ;-)
Interesting point, Rolynn. Though the fact is, all those items are aimed at us and we're not asking for them. I can google any candidate and find out what I want to know, both sides of whatever question. It's just too in-my-face this way.
Ah, yes, Brenda, I well remember the Kennedy business--people said the Pope would be dictating what he has to do. What a ridiculous thought. But as I say, the downside of politics has been going on since Washington, to be honest; it's just that we know so much more nowadays through the internet and media. It was actually Reagan who repealed an act which had the clamps on the media, and that's when this sort of garbage took off.
Just a quick update to let you all know that hubby DID join me in voting after work. He was sitting there waiting with his jacket on when I walked in the door (more a sign of "let's get this over with" than an enthusiasm for voting!). :-) Luckily the morning crowds had pretty much dissipated and we were in and out in just a few minutes.
So now we sit and wait while all the talking heads try to fill air space. :-)
I think I'm taking Brenda's route--whoever wins, I'm going to focus on my next novel!
Well, Leah, glad to hear that. Wondering what states y'all are in. Me, I'm considering a return to the UK...AND my next novel! ;-)
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