This Just In – America’s stress is off the charts.
As we are closing in on Election Day and what we hope are the final steps in closing the book on the 45th president, we’re all feeling it. Lack of sleep, dwindling confidence and (according to my email) a desperate lack of funds for democrats all over the country. Surely bake sales are next and we’re all stress-eating so, bring on the chocolate cake!
I sometimes wonder if the fund-raising folks know that we have access to the news. Case in point, as I’m reading the 500th desperate plea ostensibly from the Harris campaign for me to chip in just $3.00 to save democracy, I also have the news reporting that the campaign has raised in excess of a record-smashing $1Billion.
At this point, I start feeling all kinds of conservative and want to quote my depression-era parents:
“You’ll have to make do with what you have.”
If you can’t get it done with a billion bucks, then you can’t get it done.
So why are democrats doing this? It strains credibility to say they’re desperate for cash. I think they have another reason. They want to make sure that no Democrat falls into the 2016 “we’ve got this” trap and does the unpardonable thing of no voting. If you’re in New York, Massachusetts or California and your state is as blue as September’s sapphire sky, you still need to vote.
America needs to run up the score and make a statement that we’ll keep our democracy, thank you veery much. Whether they say to out loud or not, Kamala Harris is more likely than not to win this race. The news networks will all call the race the week of November 5th. The margin in the popular vote will be in the millions.
And that will not be enough.
If the popular vote margin is 15-20 million, that will help seal the deal in the public’s perception but what MUST also happen is that Republican elected officials MUST step to the microphones and call her the President Elect. They must do this at the earliest possible opportunity – not just because it’s the right thing, the American thing, their duty in preserving, protecting and defending the Constitution. No.
They must do it in their own self-interest, which is something they actually care about. Since more than 200 prominent Republicans have already endorsed Harris, they don’t need to take this step, but for the sake of the republic, Mitch McConnell and Mike Johnson need to do so after the election is called. All they have to say is “The people have spoken. Congratulations to President Elect Harris and Vice President Elect Walz.”
That’s it. Feel free to cut and paste, fellas. Don’t feed the ever-hungry fake fraud monster.
This all-country, all citizens national stress test is coming to a close. I hope you’re okay and getting enough sleep. I found myself feeling anxious on Monday because I hadn’t voted yet (I had hoped to go on day one). I went to the Seymour Center, waited behind FOUR people, then went in an earned my sticker. I left feeling enormous relief and gratitude for every single person who was there to help smooth the way of that process.
Can we throw them a mega parade after the election is over? Seriously, Orange County … can we?
Check your email for the coming two weeks only as needed. Avoid Twitter/X/Elon’s Crazyfeed. Watch great old movies where you know the happy ending. Enjoy the World Series. Stay hydrated. Plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Help a friend get to the polls.
The early turnout numbers are at record levels. You can see what the wait time is before going to vote: https://www.orangecountync.gov/3013/Early-Voting-Wait-Time-Tracker
Get to the polls and VOTE. It will make you feel big and strong.
Photo via AP Photo/Adam Bettcher.
Jean Bolduc is a freelance writer and the host of the Weekend Watercooler on 97.9 The Hill. She is the author of “African Americans of Durham & Orange Counties: An Oral History” (History Press, 2016) and has served on Orange County’s Human Relations Commission, The Alliance of AIDS Services-Carolina, the Orange County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, and the Orange County Schools’ Equity Task Force. She was a featured columnist and reporter for the Chapel Hill Herald and the News & Observer.
Readers can reach Jean via email – jean@penandinc.com and via Twitter @JeanBolduc
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