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For four years of Trump, I held my nose. The stench was just that bad.
For four days after the election, I held my breath. The suspense was just that terrifying.
Then the news came. Joe Biden had finally crossed the threshold. The wait was over. The reign of terror was no more.
Out came Joe and Kamala to claim victory, to pledge allegiance to all who live under the flag, promising that empathy and fact would guide their actions rather than unabashed self-interest.
Out came Trump to claim fraud and conspiracy, to refuse to acknowledge the result of the election, and promising that he would fight to stay in power rather than to concede graciously or do anything to encourage a peaceful and sane transfer of power. I’ll say one thing for the man. However terrible a person he is, he is at least consistent.
The big picture is not that hard to recognize. Once the whining and the false claims of election fraud and cheating have been dismissed, Joe Biden will be sworn in in Washington DC on Jan 20. More likely than not, the ever-gracious, ever-consistent Donald Trump will be on the golf course at that moment or maybe under a sun lamp in Mar-a-Lago.
At the center of government, reason will guide policy. Strategy will replace whim. The principle of the greater good will replace self-interest and personal loyalty, and common sense and common decency will reside at the heart of all decisions.
But, in one of his last campaign speeches for Joe Biden, Barak Obama made me think about how things will be different just off to the center of the Presidency.
The EPA will be run by someone who actually cares about environmental protection—rather than Andrew Wheeler, the coal industry lobbyist who has expressed skepticism about climate change.
The Dept of Education will be run by someone who actually knows and cares about public education—rather than the poorly-educated Betsy DeVos, who did all in her power to fight against public education (luckily she had relatively little power and even less ability, so she did less harm than a more competent person might have).
Ben Carson can go back to brain surgery–rather than running the Dept of Housing and Urban Development. Old Ben had as much interest and knowledge about urban housing as I do about neurosurgery, but he was repaid for his loyalty by becoming a token black face in a high level position. There he had the luxury of holding an esteemed title while in semi-retirement.
And as for old friend Bill Barr, we can finally take down the sign on his office that read “Justice” Department, replacing him with someone who actually knows and cares what the word Justice means. Of all Trump’s lackeys, he wins the award for Most Despicable.
Are there any down sides to the election? Poor Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un will have lost their favorite patsy. The late night comedians will suffer, all having to shorten their shows to 15 minutes due to a lack of material.
And the swamp, so effectively drained by Donald J. Trump, will certainly fill up again with all sorts of flotsam and jetsam, especially the rats that will be jumping off the SS Trump as it sinks slowly into the sea.
“And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!’
He chortled in his joy.