A week from Tuesday, voting will be over. This weekend the presidential race is still a tossup. Some Democrats are showing signs of panic. I am inches away from being part of that group.
Here is what we know:
- The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times are not endorsing either candidate. The owners of both newspapers—Jeff Bezos owner of the Post and Patrick Soon-Shiong, owner of the LA Times—could be affected financially depending on the outcome and presumably do not want to risk Trump’s wrath. Shame on them, especially Bezos. Not endorsing either candidate implies there is no significant difference between the two and is an implicit endorsement of Trump.
- The New York Times countered on Saturday, the day following the announcement from the Washington Post of its neutrality, by posting a blistering attack on Trump on the front page and endorsing Harris. Three full pages of the paper were devoted to all the harm Trump is likely to do if elected. The list is now familiar thanks to Project 2025 and what Trump has told us—arresting and deporting tens of millions of immigrants, replacing federal bureaucrats with Trump sycophants, arresting and jailing his enemies including the entire Biden “crime family,” Hilary Clinton, Liz Chaney, Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, hostile journalists, former cabinet members or high level officials who have warned us that he is a potential fascist, imposing huge tariffs on imports, especially from China, weaponizing the justice department as his own private law firm, selling out Ukraine so that Putin can claim victory, killing all climate initiatives, using the military to punish domestic adversaries, changing the rules of NATO (or exiting the alliance), and more massive tax cuts for the rich and super rich. There are more but you get the picture: a Trump presidency would mean life in the U.S. and the world would never be the same.
- If Trump and Vance lose the election, however, it is very likely they will not concede. They have told us so. Trump’s allies have been working on ways to restrict voting by people whom they consider hostile, to use state legislatures to reverse the outcome, and other measures which are likely to put the country into turmoil. Were it not for Mike Pence, we probably would not have survived the 2020 election without major damage to the country. The Trump team has been hard at work to assure that their plan to overturn the results will not fail this time.
- The Supreme Court cannot be counted on to counter Trump’s overturning the election and has already ruled that if elected Trump (or any president) can not be prosecuted for any “official act.”
So, yes, I am very worried and am not able to see how this movie will end happily. If Trump wins, it is a debacle. If he loses, it is a disaster if he does not concede. Take your pick—debacle or disaster. How are we going to survive this crisis, which will affect not only the United States but the entire world?
Do you see any light at the end of this tunnel?
Your comments are welcomed.
Surprisingly, I am very optimistic. My gut says Harris wins comfortably.
Dan Dozier
This is good news and I agree that it is important to keep this in perspective.
It will still be a nail biter.
I think there are good reasons not to panic. The vast majority of Americans are tired of the campaign and ready to move on. Some loud and obnoxious people who crave attention are willing to say crazy things because that’s how you get attention, and a sick form of affirmation, in today’s social media world. Many media outlets are publishing stories to encourage panic because that is the easiest way to get clicks and make money. But talking to average voters, like I did canvassing yesterday, you get the rest that folks are mostly hoping we can put this behind us and agree to disagree after November 5. It’s too disruptive of their daily focused on just making a living. So better than panicking, do something to bring about the outcome you want, then find a way to live with the result and mitigate harms. Crazies will likely do crazy things but their following will be minimal. If the worst happens, resist. But panic is a luxury we can’t afford. In Michelle Obama’s words, « Do something! », or in those of the British during The Blitz, « Keep your chin up. «
P.S. I still think Kamala is going to be our next president.
Wise counsel. You have set an example for the rest of us. Thank you!
Thanks, Joe, for putting all the scenario down in your blog. I have been silently doing so, wondering where it’s all going to go, especially what I need to do as an individual with very little power. Should I pack up a car with some belongings, important papers, and head south across the border into Mexico? What can I do as an individual do? I am shocked recently when I learn that a person I know is not voting for Harris or at all? What have we been doing as individuals and/or as groups that has gotten us to this point?
All good questions. But I know it’s too early to despair.
There is still a lot we can all do! If we can’t canvas door to door in a swing state, we can join a text banking team to likely Democratic voters or if you prefer, make phone calls! Who cares if we hung up on…We’ve all been through worse and it’s not personal – it’s preferable to our Democracy hanging up the phone. On average, every session of phone/text banking or canvassing does make a difference in getting out the vote.
A call from a volunteer phone bank boosts voter turn out by 3.3%!
Texting is easier and it also works!
My husband received this when text banking to PA voters two days ago:
“We received our ballots. We will be taking them tomorrow to the drop box in Wilkes-Barre. We thank you for your concern. We are Republicans – however, we are voting straight democrat in this election. We do appreciate you because not one Republican has contacted us with any concern about our voting and any concerns that we may have. So we thank you once again for caring.”
This is so encouraging and exciting ! We can have the better ground game!
Here are ways to help:
https://www.mobilize.us/
Great advice and good reasons for hope. Thank you!!
Also this – We can all « do something ! »
Let’s go!
https://go.kamalaharris.com/calls/?ref=kh_em_do_20241027_b16_hwot_tier1_do_do_fl_ak-res&us_state=NJ&utm_campaign=kh_em_do_20241027_b16_hwot_tier1_do_do_fl_ak-res&utm_source=em
Texas is going to elect Colin Allred (D) to the Senate. We are turning the page, and I believe the rest of the country is doing the same.
From Iowa – it’s a far cry from previous presidential campaigns without being first in the nation! No huge Trump signs in the cornfields and on street corners. In fact a higher number of yard signs for Harris/Waltz yard signs than trump signs in our neighborhood unlike years past. Even though our signs for Harris and our US Rep and our State Rep were stolen out of our front yard. Many Republicans here will either not vote or vote for Harris – they’ve had it with trump. Our Republican governor has decimated our educational and health care system and people are seeing that reducing taxes by millions and placing millions in private schools and private nursing home companies’ pockets is a travesty. We hope your observation about what will happen if trump looses does not happen and that we can finally “turn the page!”
A glimmer of hope. Thank you for sharing!