Greetings from Brooklyn, Damir and other Crowd members. This is my first election since leaving DC, and I cast my first vote in 20 years for a senator and an actual voting member of Congress; that felt personally significant, no matter what else happens. Damir, you might need to have people stay over for a while - this count could take days. Not to sound naive but my question for the assorted wise folks gathered is, if Kamala wins, anyone has any optimism for a turning down of the national temperature, something Biden said he wanted to do but clearly failed at, no matter what else you think of his presidency.
Hey Marc! And Damir. Good to be virtually partying with y'all. To your question, I have zero optimism that the national temperature gets turned down after the election. I think the two parties have become like a sports rivalry. One side hates the other because humans are tribal creatures who are wired to identify with "our" team while hating the "others." Red Sox fans will always hate Yankees fans and the same goes for Ds and Rs.
Hey Damon! Yeah I think you are largely correct, sadly. Though I think it’s much, much, much worse than a sports rivalry. Fans of opposing teams all stand for the anthem and the stand up against cancer and all that.
Damir's comment about the "online" campaign really highlights what is a huge issue for Democrats (win or lose tonight); liberals dominate so many cultural spheres that they're out of touch with voters who have sorted themselves out of those spheres.
How democrats respond to these losses will tell us a lot about how long MAGA remains in vogue. My bet is they will remain obstinate and unable to concede ground to the crowds. Looks like a purgatory lasting at least a decade (if not more). Theres a huge opportunity to revitalize democracy here, I just don't trust democrats to grab it. Just one more reason I'm unaffiliated.
We have to ask ourselves why many people would vote for all around racist/ sexist, authoritarian leaning and narcissistic a$$ hole, rather than a competent, working class friendly woman. There has to be a way to break through people's racism and sexism and show them that a Harris presidency would benefit them.
Given the way things appear to be moving, let me revise my question from 6:30 pm: if he holds on for this win, does that hold out any hope for a turning down of the national temperature? I guess it depends on what he actually implements of what he’s proposed (dangled?) and how his policies actually play out.
I think it depends on Democratic leaders and how they lead their members through the discontent. If they concede, and lead with kindness, it could help quell and dissuade people from being violent and rioting. But even with that said, I believe we will still see unrest.
Oh I don’t know. Didn’t yesterday kind of prove there are not really any good Democratic leaders at this point? Who are they going to lead? I think if there is a national cooling it’s going to depend on something else but I don’t know what that something is.
To answer Santi's question: the mood in New Zealand is surprisingly quiet. I've heard nary a peep from anyone about the US election so far today. It's not always like this; when Donald Trump was first elected you could tell everyone in the office was refreshing their screens. This time around it's much quieter. I've seen TV news advertising over the past week or two with US election pictures, and my (American) husband mentioned yesterday that he was probably just going to be nervous until the results came in. Apart from that, even the sometimes-political family group chat is talking about my sister's college results instead...
Mind you, I may have spoken too soon! My husband says his office was talking about it for most of the day. I asked him what the mood was and he said "Annoyingly spectatorial."
A friend of mine noted: "Even more depressing - he [Trump] won the popular vote as well.
There is a book called "How the South Won the Civil War." Today, we officially surrendered to racism. Well played, racists, well played. If he had started his campaign saying "undocumented immigrants depress wages because they can be exploited with low wages, so we need to limit the number entering the country," then we could pretend this was all about economics. But he started with "they are rapists and drug dealers." From minute number one, this was about racism, and racism won."
Calling everyone who voted for change a racist is EXACTLY how you will lose elections again and again. I gladly share this with you as the real reason Democrats lost:
Greetings from Bria and Santi’s apartment in Inwood!
have a good party!
sorry you’re not around Oliver!
My favourite expression of nervousness that I’ve seen is today’s xkcd cartoon: https://xkcd.com/3007/
My favourite expression of calm is Alan Jacobs quoting Oliver Goldsmith: https://social.ayjay.org/2024/11/05/in-evry-government.html
In ev’ry government, though terrors reign,
Though tyrant kings, or tyrant laws restrain,
How small of all that human hearts endure,
That part which laws or kings can cause or cure.
Time for thos cigarettes?
Greetings from Brooklyn, Damir and other Crowd members. This is my first election since leaving DC, and I cast my first vote in 20 years for a senator and an actual voting member of Congress; that felt personally significant, no matter what else happens. Damir, you might need to have people stay over for a while - this count could take days. Not to sound naive but my question for the assorted wise folks gathered is, if Kamala wins, anyone has any optimism for a turning down of the national temperature, something Biden said he wanted to do but clearly failed at, no matter what else you think of his presidency.
Hey Marc! And Damir. Good to be virtually partying with y'all. To your question, I have zero optimism that the national temperature gets turned down after the election. I think the two parties have become like a sports rivalry. One side hates the other because humans are tribal creatures who are wired to identify with "our" team while hating the "others." Red Sox fans will always hate Yankees fans and the same goes for Ds and Rs.
Hey Damon! Yeah I think you are largely correct, sadly. Though I think it’s much, much, much worse than a sports rivalry. Fans of opposing teams all stand for the anthem and the stand up against cancer and all that.
Is it really a party without WoC original Marc? But, hey, glad to get the update. Missed you on X, etc.
Thanks Tom! I have really curtailed my social media use over the years; thankfully I can still follow the Crowd here!
Greetings from CO, I am glad I've got two hours on you all, It's gonna be a long night!
and I gather you got a good jump on snowpack this week too!
He makes it rain on the just and the unjust, haha.
Damir's comment about the "online" campaign really highlights what is a huge issue for Democrats (win or lose tonight); liberals dominate so many cultural spheres that they're out of touch with voters who have sorted themselves out of those spheres.
grocery store, bazaar, farmer’s market, παντοπώλιον, Resp. 557d
How democrats respond to these losses will tell us a lot about how long MAGA remains in vogue. My bet is they will remain obstinate and unable to concede ground to the crowds. Looks like a purgatory lasting at least a decade (if not more). Theres a huge opportunity to revitalize democracy here, I just don't trust democrats to grab it. Just one more reason I'm unaffiliated.
My condolenses all, it was a wild night!
We have to ask ourselves why many people would vote for all around racist/ sexist, authoritarian leaning and narcissistic a$$ hole, rather than a competent, working class friendly woman. There has to be a way to break through people's racism and sexism and show them that a Harris presidency would benefit them.
so true
Given the way things appear to be moving, let me revise my question from 6:30 pm: if he holds on for this win, does that hold out any hope for a turning down of the national temperature? I guess it depends on what he actually implements of what he’s proposed (dangled?) and how his policies actually play out.
I think it depends on Democratic leaders and how they lead their members through the discontent. If they concede, and lead with kindness, it could help quell and dissuade people from being violent and rioting. But even with that said, I believe we will still see unrest.
Oh I don’t know. Didn’t yesterday kind of prove there are not really any good Democratic leaders at this point? Who are they going to lead? I think if there is a national cooling it’s going to depend on something else but I don’t know what that something is.
Agreed. The Democratice Party needs to do some revamping. Maybe start training up some new generational talent. Cuz it ain’t looking good.
To answer Santi's question: the mood in New Zealand is surprisingly quiet. I've heard nary a peep from anyone about the US election so far today. It's not always like this; when Donald Trump was first elected you could tell everyone in the office was refreshing their screens. This time around it's much quieter. I've seen TV news advertising over the past week or two with US election pictures, and my (American) husband mentioned yesterday that he was probably just going to be nervous until the results came in. Apart from that, even the sometimes-political family group chat is talking about my sister's college results instead...
Mind you, I may have spoken too soon! My husband says his office was talking about it for most of the day. I asked him what the mood was and he said "Annoyingly spectatorial."
While we're waiting for more serious results: how does everyone take their martini?
filthy with gin and a whisper of vermouth
I just noticed the plebeian vermouth, well done.
I agree voters are more guided by fear than hope and that people are feeding those fears.
Never thought this would be in my vocabulary, but I fear political violence during transfer of power. Which dystopia is that? 💔
I know, Christy. I think exit poll data showed 70% of voters agree with you!
Dangerous times. But I am still weirdly hopeful that this is more cosplay than not.
A friend of mine noted: "Even more depressing - he [Trump] won the popular vote as well.
There is a book called "How the South Won the Civil War." Today, we officially surrendered to racism. Well played, racists, well played. If he had started his campaign saying "undocumented immigrants depress wages because they can be exploited with low wages, so we need to limit the number entering the country," then we could pretend this was all about economics. But he started with "they are rapists and drug dealers." From minute number one, this was about racism, and racism won."
Calling everyone who voted for change a racist is EXACTLY how you will lose elections again and again. I gladly share this with you as the real reason Democrats lost:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/06/opinion/donald-trump-defeat-democrats.html
Not all trump supporters are racist, but all of them are ok with his racism. Subtle but important distinction.