“THE MOMENT HAS ARRIVED”
Tuesday marks the end of the national election period, and the future of the USA depends on the outcome. No matter who wins the presidential election, we will all be in hell for a while. If Trump wins, we are going to hell. If Harris wins, then Trump will make our lives hell for two months before the vote is certified on January 6. Fortunately, President Biden will control the military this time, rather than Trump controlling it. If Harris is the winner (and I believe and hope that she will be), the certification process on January 6 will take focus.
If he loses, Trump will seek to challenge the swing states that he lost. Georgia is solid, so that will go nowhere here. Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania all have Democratic governors, who will not be calling special sessions of the legislature to dispute those Harris wins. Trump’s strategy will be to deny enough states that he lost, so that the election will be thrown to the House to decide it. I am hoping that the Democrats will win the House, so that they will have the votes to certify the election. If they do not win the House, we may be in for a rough time. If a Republican House majority refuses to certify the election, then the election will be decided by the House. And, if that happens, Trump will likely win because at that point, the House votes by states, rather than by congressional districts. If that is the case, we will be right back to 1876, when Rutherford Hayes made a deal with the Southern states to end the military occupation by Union soldiers. At that point America was “made great again” by allowing slavery to make its return as neo-slavery (often known as Jim Crow.) Trump and the MAGA movement have those intentions also.
So, there is a lot to think about (and pray over). In 2020, it was Saturday after the election before Pennsylvania was called for Biden, giving him the Presidency. That same scenario may play out in 2024, although I am hoping that Harris’ victory will be clear before then. We know that Trump will declare victory sometime on the evening of election night, so that he can once again say the election was stolen from him. It would be so nice for Harris to win out clearly and to send Trump back to the November sentencing and other court cases waiting for him.
We do face a stark contrast and momentous decision in this election. Harris represents a new generation, seeking to take the mantle of leadership from my Boomer generation. She also represents the multiracial culture that is emerging in the USA, a culture that will determine much of our country’s future. Trump represents the old, white male culture that has held power since the beginning of this nation’s history. And, if we elect Trump, we will be deserving of him – seeking to return us to the toxic masculinity, greed, and white grievance which are his driving forces. Which way will we go? We’ll know sometime next week. AND, don’t forget to vote – it is at the heart of our lives together.
