National Nightmare
But there is always hope, somewhere
I have a confession to make.
I live part-time in an area just north of NYC, and was running erands this morning after a swim at the local college. I came across a small group of Trump supporters by the side of the road. They had flags, signs, bull horns and noise makers, creating a ruckus as cars passed. Some cars beeped in what seemed like approval. This area is mixed Dems and Republicans—maybe slightly more Democrat in the area where I was driving— but generally kinda quiet, politically.
It felt to me like these people wanted to be “in your face” for DT, it felt like hate directed at me. Not me personally, but hate towards those who support Harris. They don’t care that Trump is unfit, they must know it— they just want to project anger towards the other side, who they probably assume hate them. Democrats have been made into the enemy. I have said many times, I don’t hate Trump supporters. But today I wanted to give these people the finger. I wanted to get out of the car and yell at them, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING???”
I am never like that.
This is what has happened to us, what Trump has created. We have to get out of this.
In Milwaukee yesterday, Trump was about to speak at a rally, and had technical issues with his microphone. For four minutes, he railed against the tech folks, repeatedly calling them “stupid,” and said to the audience “do you want to see me knock the hell out of the people backstage?” Laughter. Then, he made an obscene gesture with the microphone, mimicing oral sex. More laughter.
Is this the person we want to be President? Joyce Carol Oates, who is very active politically on twitter, wrote this:
This is a national nightmare.
Harris hopes to turn some right leaning voters to cast their vote for her. Recent words and actions of Trump may just be pushing them to do that.
One thing I have not really thought about is what will happen if Trump does win. It’s been hard to consider that a potential reality. I think about Hakeem Jeffries, Nancy Pelosi, Gretchen Whitmer, Chuck Schumer, Corey Booker, Jamie Raskin, Gavin Newsome, Liz Cheney, Pete Buttigieg, and so many more leaders with integrity who will fight to keep our Democracy together and it gives me hope.
The drawing at the top of this newsletter was one I did in my regular batch of drawings this week for The New Yorker. They didn’t buy it, so I happily share it with you. I wish this situation we Americans find ourselves in was just a case of Trump putting a hat on upside down.
Here is a great video, please watch.
Thanks for being here, see you tomorrow.
I can’t imagine any of us liking ourselves as much as we used to. I was always told to “be a better person” than any person denigrating me (from grade school on), and absent any physical interaction I try to be, but it’s harder and harder to not tell someone yelling in my face not to F off.
A few more days to go (if we’re lucky)
You know when he first started his obscene nastiness, he told us he could go out on Fifth avenue (or some place, forget the exact wording), and shoot someone, and his supporters would still vote for him. Now that didn't get a lot of attention because the "pussy" statement was all in the press. But, I think it was Maya Angelou who said, "if a person says he is going to do something, believe it." (Or something to that effect.) He is getting sicker and sicker and thinks his horrid, filthy statements are funny. As if. I do hope people--in the privacy of the voting enclosure--where no one sees--will do the right thing. And this nightmare will be over. I agree with you about him and his followers emanating hate just for the heck of it. It's like they had all this hate built up for years and years, and they have just opened the pandora's box and let it all out....and it's sucking us in...trying to make us reciprocate. I never shouted at the evening news so much as I have this year. And finally, I've given up watching it as it makes me sick. Anyway, God bless you for your work. We'd be lost without it. Greeting to the cat.