Update no.1191

 Update from the Sunland

No.1191

4.11.24 – 10.11.24

Blog version:  http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/

 

To all,

 

Tuesday, 5.November.2024 – Election Day has arrived. The candidates are done. The silly season is over. The outcome is now solely in the hands of the American citizens who have yet to vote. The results will soon be what they will be, and we shall press on regardless of the outcome. We will get initial results tonight. It will likely take days before we receive projections based on the count difference versus the votes yet to be counted.

 

Early Wednesday morning, the news outlets began to project that [the person who shall no longer be named] crossed to 270 Electoral College threshold and thus became the president-elect. He is technically not the president-elect until 6.January.2025, when a joint session of Congress confirms the Electoral College votes. He will return to the White House Oval Office on 20.January.2025, and we will gain the task of surviving what it likely to be a very chaotic, isolationist administration.

 

So close yet so far! I awoke Wednesday morning {04:05 [T] MST} to the news from nearly a dozen news outlets (so far) that [the person who shall no longer be named] was projected to win a second non-consecutive term as president of the United States of America. The vote counting is not over and will not be officially certified by state governors until 11.December.2024, thus it is not over until it is over. The projections added dramatic complications to life in the United States and to our allies in the world. The dictators throughout the world are rejoicing.

There are undoubtedly myriad reasons for the outcome. Neither candidate was inspiring. We hardly knew Harris. I hate Democrats. The MAGAt Party had a better ground came. There are many more. From my perspective, there is one parameter alone that punctuates this election.

Total popular vote 2024 v 2020

2020                                                    2024 (* still counting)

Biden/Harris   81,283,501                  Harris/Walz    69,043,761

Trump/Pence  74,223,975                  Trump/Vance  73,361,410

At the bottom line, the MAGAts voted; enough others did not vote for whatever reason. This is exactly what I feared for all those months—the MAGAts would vote, the other guys did not. The question we may debate for weeks, months, or years is why. We could conclude that the Democratic candidate simply did not inspire her supporters sufficiently to convince them to take the time to vote by any means—mail, early, or election day. In addition to the states she won, if Harris had won Wisconsin, Michigan, and North Carolina, she would have won the electoral vote. Alas, she did not, and history is history. To me, the obvious reality of this election is reflected in that one highlighted number noted above. At the end of the day, the MAGAts voted; enough other citizens apparently did not vote. 

Regardless of the reason(s) for the inadequate turnout, I am profoundly concerned about the blatant voter suppression effort by the MAGAt legislatures. They have NOT made it easier, safer, or fairer to vote. They have, in fact, made it more difficult to vote, which inherently and fundamentally makes it far more difficult for citizens without wealth to vote. That is WRONG! It is un-American. But, it does serve the MAGA agenda to dictate and dominate the instruments of state and impose their will on all citizens. The MAGAts see the United States of America as a conservative, Christian country rather than a free, democratic nation. They are perfectly comfortable projecting their morality on all citizens; that is NOT freedom.

Perhaps worse, it appears the MAGAt Party has also won a majority in both chambers of Congress, which does not bode well for those of us who remain concerned about the protection of individual rights. There will be even fewer checks on presidential power during the next administration.

Clearly, character does NOT matter a twit to a majority of Americans who voted in this election. They elected a convicted (but not sentenced) felon, a sexual predator, misogynist abuser to be president, again. To me, that is the saddest and most depressing statement of all from the election results. The only thing that apparently matters is that the voting majority gets what they want no matter what and regardless of who is their agent. To me, that is a very sad historical statement on the evolution (or rather devolution) of this once grand republic.

To 73 million American voters, five cents off a gallon of gasoline (petrol) was far more important than the character of the candidate. What a terribly sad statement that is.

As a footnote to all this, [the person who shall no longer be named], as enabled by the MAGAts and others, has accomplished what he set out to do—gain cover for his liabilities (civil and criminal). He will wrap himself in the immunity validated for him by the Supremes. He will attempt to dismiss the federal cases against him and dismiss Special Counsel Jack Smith. He will use his federal immunity to suppress or eliminate any state judicial liability he may face. In essence, the MAGAts have given him a license to steal and do any other felonious things he wishes [he will have built in protection of a MAGAt dominated Congress (both chambers no less).] To that point, I must confess and proclaim that [the person who shall no longer be named] was spot on correct on Saturday, 23.January.2016, when he publicly stated, “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn't lose any voters, OK? It's, like, incredible.” [1112] The statement speaks volumes about the kind of person he is, always has been, and always will be, but far worse, it is a tragic and disgusting declaration about what has become of this once grand republic. His catch phrase, Make America Great Again, has absolutely nothing to do with returning the United States to the greatness it once enjoyed. What it actually means is that he will drag the nation into the dark abyss of the greatest, most profound, con-job ever inflicted upon a massive body of people, many of whom were willing collaborators, enablers, and supporters.

I am truly, genuinely, and deeply disappointed in those American citizens who chose not to vote in this year's election. The nation will pay a terrible price for that ambivalence. There will undoubtedly be collateral damage.

In the vein of trying to find a ray of sunshine on a very dark day, at least we do not have to listen to all the ‘election was stolen,’ ‘stop the steal’ nonsense for the next three months. Another dim break in the dark clouds, this will be the last four years we must endure his chaos. What comes next is anyone’s guess, but I suspect irreparable damage may well be done in the next four years (that alone is a very dark thought). Allies will abandon us (and rightly so). Dictators and adversaries will take advantage of our mounting isolationism to gain what they seek. At the bottom line, the American People will pay for the nightmare that man induces.

Our middle son sent this link:

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/SHf4cHDjXFZmuaSm/

Rory Nicholas expressed his opinion. My comment: Oh my, Lord, spot on, indeed! You will read my similar reaction in this week’s Update. I felt it. That faction has de facto anointed a king imbued with the divine right of kings. Rory was precisely correct. Now, your generation will have to teach your children this was a mistake. His conduct, his behavior, is not acceptable; it is not OK. Nicholas’s opinion is a perfect exclamation point on this year’s election.

 

Wednesday, as I began to absorb what had happened, I felt the Black Dog moving closer and his heavy weight sitting on my chest. I had to turn off all news sources including my WiFi connection. After my late morning naptime, I closed the doors to my study and turned on Beethoven as loud as I could without bothering Jeanne. That glorious music from 200 years ago did the trick. The inspiration I feel with every note never ceases to amaze me. Words began to flow on the first draft of my next manuscript. By quittin’ time, the Black Dog had been ushered out of the room. Beethoven still offers miracles after two centuries.

 

Vice President Harris gave us an elegant, graceful, dignified, and respectful concession speech. It was an inspiring but sad speech that demonstrated how the U.S. Constitution is respected with the outcome of an election. May God bless her for her integrity and honor. President Biden added his personal call of congratulations to [the person who shall no longer be named] along with the commitment of his administration to carry a peaceful transfer of power to the new administration. Both Harris and Biden demonstrated how election outcomes should be handled in monumental contrast to what happened in 2020/21 at the behest of [the person who shall no longer be named].

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1190:

Comment to the Blog:

“Little Fingers’ statement about protecting women even if they don’t want him to is worse than one more numb nuts claim. It’s exactly what an abuser tells their target to isolate them.

“Merriam-Webster sent me an article this morning about the differences between fascism and socialism. This is an excellent, objective discussion and it’s important to know. https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/difference-between-fascism-and-socialism

“I also voted early by mail and got confirmation.

“I’ve seen warnings of Little Fingers claiming victory because of rural precincts (likely to vote for him) reporting sooner, followed by a claim the election was “taken away” from him. In the meantime, he is awaiting sentencing.”

My response to the Blog:

Spot on! That is exactly my point. He has been, is, and always will be a serial abuser. And yet, some women are attracted to the bad boy character he is and always has been. That is their choice, but that reality does not ameliorate the sadness I feel with that reality.

I can agree with those definitions. However, in human societies, there are variations not explained by the strict definitions. The Webster definitions are a very good starting point.

We do not get receipt confirmation for mail in ballots in Arizona. I wish we did. I can only say, I have no reason to doubt the election system administered in Arizona. The silly season is over. Now, we wait.

I have seen the same or similar warnings about Little Fingers. Regardless, while one phase ends today, we enter another phase I’ll call the 2020 phase where we will bear witness every type of shenanigan perpetrated by Tiny and his minions as they seek to alter the election results in their favor. The Judiciary held the line four years ago; I have no doubt they will hold the line in this year’s rendition. Whether this year’s version will reach the violence perpetrated by Tiny four years ago is yet to be seen. Semper Vigilantis.

 . . . Round two:

“I’m sad that you want to nitpick with Merriam-Webster. The definitions given are definitions, not attempts to list every instance of the term. Sometimes political terms are misused, as in ‘National Socialist’ for the Nazi Party. Variations will occur if one defines ‘automobile,’ ‘cookie,’ or ‘political party.’ They will also occur in definitions of ‘fascism’ or ‘socialism.’ Nevertheless, we can still use the definition to determine what we are looking at. An ‘automobile’ isn’t the same as a ‘train.’

“Plenty of election systems have been tinkered with, or attempts made at that, in this cycle.

“I still wish I’d heard much more about Tiny’s 34 felony convictions in the promotion against him.”

 . . . my response to round two:

My apologies for the delay. I had to take a break as explained in this week’s Update.

I am sorry you felt I was nitpicking. I was only adding my comment. Human organizations and actions often show variation from definitions. I agree with your opinion. My only point was, the definition tends to over-state the manifestation of socialism in western countries. The term socialism has been saddled with a rather derogatory connotation in the United States. Socialism and Communism (for that matter) are not bad; they are admirable ideals in human thought. The problem is invariably the implementation of such ideals by deeply flawed human beings that leads to corrosive and destructive applications, e.g., Soviet Russia, Communist China, North Korea, et al. Those real-world applications are infinitely separated from the ideals they are based on.

From my perspective, the tinkering was in the form of Jim Crow v.2.0 imposed by the MAGAt Party where they had the power to do so.

Well, too late now. Jim Smith is already in talks with the Justice Department to close the federal investigations and prosecutions of Little Fingers for his crimes. His sentencing later this month for his felonious convictions will undoubtedly now be a minor hand slap (if that). It is also doubtful the Supremes will allow state prosecution of a sitting president. To me, he has gotten away with ‘murder’ just as he publicly proclaimed in 2016. That reality is a truly disgusting, revolting, and disparaging exclamation on the history of this once grand republic.

“That’s just my opinion, but I could be wrong.”

 . . . Round three:

“My point about the definitions is that we can study a given example to understand whether it matches the definition/denotation. Dictatorships often use the term ‘socialist’ in their national name; they’re not socialist. Connotations are the reason they do that. The spin on that term in the United States was my main reason for posting the definition. It’s worth studying the ‘democratic socialist’ part of the ‘socialist’ definition in particular because it discusses governments that are serving their people better than ours is.

“Election tinkering needs more attention.

“Little Fingers probably won’t be sentenced for his convictions, and avoiding prison was probably his central motivation for the campaign. The cost to our nation didn’t bother him.”

 . . . my response to round three:

I cannot disagree with any of your observations. I will only note that a large portion of our population has swallowed whole the “Ayn Rand” version of capitalism, and the concomitant vilification of Communism and Socialism as the archenemy of capitalism. In that ethos, capitalism is driven by profits, and as a consequence, labor is seen as a consumable like any other raw material. I have rejected the sterility of “Ayn Rand” capitalism since I was old enough to read “Atlas Shrugged.”

Oh my, yes, election tinkering needs far more attention. I write more about that reality in this week’s Update.

Quite so, it appears today that Little Fingers will walk away “scot-free” for his myriad criminal and civil liable conduct. The majority of American voters have de facto placed him above the law; he is, in essence, an anointed king with divine rights to do as he pleases. We shall bear witness to the consequences of that action.

 

My very best wishes to all.  Take care of yourselves and each other.

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)