In the unlikely event Biden wins the election, how will your life be changed? Do you expect your life to be different if there’s a change ?

[Girther10]

[nightdrot]

If you don't mind me saying, this is a somewhat peculiar question. The short answer is, my life will not be changed in any substantial way - and I say this as a guy who works in politics.

Things will pretty much go on as they have. Of course, pandemics - which no Administration is responsible for - can change things. Wars can change things. The ups and downs of the economy might have some effect at the margins, but for the most part these things happens regardless of who occupies the WH.

Indeed, at two levels the occupant of the WH matters not all that much. At the most general level, the things that matter most in life - as George Will put it, "cheerful children, feisty friends and a strong bullpen" - are incidental to politics. The extent to which people have such joys is not at all set by politics and the ebbs and flows of politics just don't matter all that much.

At a secondary level, it is well to remember that the Presidency - even under the strongest Chief Executive - is a constitutionally weak office. Commander-in-chief, the pardon power and the power of appointment, albeit with the advice and consent of the Senate, are about all a President really has. Beyond that, the "bully pulpit" is all that a President brings to the table.

Consequently, in any given day and in any given month, the President is not likely to matter all that much in the day-to-day lives of most Americans. To be sure, as Head of State, he can set a national tone - but it is highly unlikely that most people with bills to pay, jobs to do, groceries to buy, children to play with and all the daily business of life are apt not to be too swayed one way or the other by the national mood, except over the long term perhaps. Even then, more rarely than not.

Beyond that, Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden are more similar than not. Both are crashingly inarticulate. Both resort to crude and vulgar epithets. Both are, in policy terms, all but incoherent, offering a mishmash of ideas cobbled together without much thought to philosophical consistency. This being the fruits of a populist age where "doing the will of the common man" matters more than a coherent worldview.

Indeed, contrary to all the hysteria, this election is apt to mean far less than the apocalyptic language proffered by both sides suggest. These are both mediocre men of mediocre talent. Their parties are, on the surface, obediently servile to their leaders and beneath a welter of divisions reflecting the broader divisions in the culture.

Indeed, America likes to trumpet that it is the world's greatest democracy. However, at this interregnum in time, it is less democracy than onagrocracy. The term , coined by the Italian political philosopher Beredetto Croce, means "Government by wild asses." A more apt description being hard to imagine.

Be that as it may, and even as I work in politics, it does not change the fact that my girlfriend and I will have our Friday night date night. As to our three little Munchkins, I will still - one way or the other - be reporting for duty as the Family Tickle Monster ever night and most weekends. That is all I need - regardless of who sits in the Oval Office.

[Girther10]

Well said mr. night. Thank you for this relatively short but very succinct reply. Words of the day- “interregnum” and “onagrocracy”. Most interesting words of the day “Family Tickle Monster.” The latter being by far, the most important, in my humble opinion.

[nightdrot]

Thanks, as always, for your kind comment. As to my most important job - I have worked in politics. I have worked for Senators and Representatives. This including committee chairmen and the like. I have worked with current and former Cabinet secretaries and even a few national leaders.

None of that, nothing, is more important than my solemn duty to be the Family Tickle Monster. I have three little Munchkins who insist about it and the vote is 535 Members of Congress to 3. The vote then, as you can tell, to the three.

[Girther10]

Just wondering, having read this a few more times, how does fear mongering in this election cycle compare to other elections in the past?

[Girther10]

Those three munchkins are three of the luckiest munchkins alive.

[nightdrot]

Well, the nation has been in fits of hysteria before. See also McArthyism in the early 1950s. See also the very similar "Red Scare" of the early 1920s. See also the anti-German hysteria of 1918. See also the "yellow journalism" of the late 19th century. Those are some of the specific cases but the mood overall waxes and wanes with the times.

To be sure, it has to be said, that it does seem that not a day goes by when a politician - of either party - or the media does not come out and scream, in so many words, "OH MY GOD!! WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!"

To which the sober minded reply, "Yes, some day we all will. Now let's keep our heads and get on with living." To borrow from Kipling, "If you can keep your head about you when all about you are losing their's, then you will be a man. my son."

That said, it is none too surprising. Fear and panic come easily to people - especially in a culture where emotion tend to get primacy over reason. Throw in then that fear is a great motivator. It generates headlines - and that gets readers/listeners/viewers - and it can, if timed right, generate votes.

Throw in the pervasiveness of social media and the technologies that tend to reinforce the very human habit of people living in their own heads and you set the stage for an especially emotional and easily panic stricken period. About what we now have.

That said, eventually people grow weary and long for normality. When that happens - see also the transition from the 60s/70s to the 80s/90s as a comparable though not exact parallel - the nation calms and quieter and more sober voices will tend to prevail.

We only have to live that long.

[nightdrot]

Thanks so much. Not so lucky as their dad!!!

Sorry for the delayed responses. For some reason I am not, at the moment, getting notified when I get a new message. So I keep discovering new messages.

Be patient with me. As the mother of my Muchkins will attest - eyes rolling - technology is not my specialty.

[nightdrot]

@Girther10 Ordinarily I would not do this, but I discovered an old discussion - about a year ago - between us that I thought you might find applicable to current circumstances.

What are your thoughts on the current political climate in America? ↗

Just for fun.

[Liam_Hayden]

If he wins, gets control of the Senate, and keeps control of the House I expect massive tax hikes on the productive so that he and the AOC brigade can give lots of freebies to the lazy and inept. I expect he will push for the Green New Deal which will increase costs dramatically and cause massive environmental damage due to the mining of lithium and other minerals for the batteries needed all to decrease the temperature by 2/10 of a degree Celsius in the next 80 years. I expect violence to increase dramatically because the oxymoronically named ANTIFA storm troopers will be given free rein and will eventually try to go into conservative areas and be expelled by force. I expect that unless they grant immediate citizenship to all of the illegals, which will require eliminating the Senate filibuster even if they get a Senate majority and can get the rural Democrats to agree, the Democrats will get destroyed in the 2022 midterms.

This all assumes he won't die or be removed as incompetent, which in his case is no easy task. While I was not a big fan of Mr. Obama's, I thank God each day that he did not die and leave us with his dolt of a VP in charge.

[Girther10]

You are right Biden has no discernible talent as a politician even after 40 decades of experience

[KC1545]

Do you not hear how the president talks? He literally talks like a child and he’s intentionally dividing our country. The man turned wearing masks into a political issue. MONTHS after Fauci and others said wearing a mask is important trump FINALLY wore one. He knows his base is dense as hell yet he chose not to set an example. There are so many things wrong with his presidency and trump himself as a person. Now that being said I don’t like Biden either. He’s bad and questionable but trump is DEFINITELY worse. So I’m going to chose the lesser of the two evils and I know MANY people that voted for trump in the last election that will being voting for Biden. That being said, as someone who is left leaning we don’t want to abolish ICE and let everyone in. We just want to find a way to let people get their citizenships faster. The people at the Mexican border are clearly leaving their homes for a reason (ie wars in their countries or too much violence) because if their countries were nicer I doubt they’d even want to come to the USA. We’re lucky to have been born here and I don’t know about you but I was lucky to have been born into a family that has enough money to put me through college and help me get a car and an apartment. Not everyone is blessed like that and we’d like to help them out. Instead of spending a million dollars on unnecessary military spend money to make immigration faster and easier.

[Girther10]

Your response is appreciated. That said, it also reinforces the notion that perception is everything. Your elitist perception and my perception will not likely intersect.
As for the answer to my question, I’m guessing that neither candidate will change your life of leisure and your personal security will not likely be at risk no matter which party has power. I accept that there are many people who happen to be in the position you are in, and enjoy the American life. There are also, as you implied, many people who are not.
I know that not all democrats are for the extremist ideas that are pushing the party hard to the left. But it is those extremists that are the loudest, and the moderates (if any) are quiet. Also notable, is that the democrats are not loudly condemning the anarchy that is prevalent in many cities today. They are not worried about their own security, obviously. They are lucky to have the wherewithal to have their own private security, and fuck everyone else. If all politicians had to live with the same laws the rest of us, I think the laws would be quite different. They have their own security, their own healthcare, etc.

[Girther10]

As a side, I , too, know many people who voted Clinton in 2016, but they are leaving the democrat party in droves. There are more than one “walk away “ campaigns underway today. They are “walking away” from the democrat party because they see the absurdity AOC and her ideas. nThey have joined the ranks of those who like me, want to make America great again. So no vote Biden. Biden= worst of two evils.

[coffeewithcream]

The term "Girther' can't refer to cranium size. :)
Republicans are leaving their party in droves. Long-term Republicans who have never voted Democrat before are declaring they will this time. That includes long-term conservative pundits.

[Girther10]

You can’t even provide original words... you just copied my reply. What a dork

[musicbrain5]

Nope, life will go on just the same as it has been for me.

[Cice711]

Biden won’t win. He’s probably going to get replaced. He can’t get enough people encouraged just to attend his events. Trump has filled a stadium in India with 140,000 people. And thousands of people are just waiting in line to potentially attend. I’m not going to be shocked if Biden ends up being replaced last minute. Maybe he uses having dementia as his excuse not to get into trouble and the dnc uses dementia for him not being able to run. After all election law is different and the DNC can have anyone they want run.

[Girther10]

Who do you think would be his last minute replacement?

[Cice711]

DNC could choose anyone they want. Best guess is that his replacement will be the VP he chooses? Then say he backs out for cognitive reasons then the VP becomes the main candidate. I don't know, maybe Michelle O is the VP candidate. “Bringing back Obama” would be a funny campaign slogan. I’m just making a guess that prob means jack

[bluetoblack99]

I don’t want Biden to win. But if Trump can’t kick snorting twitter like the pile of Down syndrome inducing cocaine in movie Scarface he’s going to. Trump’s own worst enemy is Trump. Why he keeps self sabotaging himself is beyond me.

[Girther10]

That is a very interesting metaphor. Thanks for your reply.

[bluetoblack99]

Thought of it on the spot. However I believe a lot more people are going to vote for Trump out of SPITE towards the liberals. It’s going to be close. The polls are off because people are afraid to admit their voting republican and that’s exactly what’s fucking wrong with this country and it is 100% the left’s fault.

[Jamie1865]

It'll reunite America with her global allies and partners, it'll piss the Russians and Chinese off, it'll stabilise the Middle East and we may well one day find out what the secret codeword..."Covefefe"...

[Girther10]

So far, yours is the most hilarious response. Lol

[SuccessfulHornDog]

I think that all of the objections voiced by the left during trumps tenure will be dropped when a democratic politician does something that is basically the same. Go to YouTube and watch videos of Obama supporting a stronger border, see videos of Hilary supporting American military in Afghanistan... Its sickening that they claim that the same thing is racist under trump. It's good to see democrats (who realize that this is how they are operating) walk away from the party

[Wise4myage]

Honestly, I don't think things would change all that much for everyone.

[nightdrot]

Just have to say, this young man is wise beyond his years. At last, amidst the darkness a beacon of light, prudence, common sense and perspective!!!

Sir, would that there were 300 million more like you!!!

Hire this man!!!

[Wise4myage]

@nightdrot Thanks, lol.

[Girther10]

@nightdrot- agreed. His screename gives him away, then he actually acts like it. @wise4myage- your hired!

[wilfh1965]

We can finally get someone who is not a laughing stock of the world I did not risk my life in the Marines to have an idiot destroy the country he dodged fighting for

[purplepoppy]

I feel blessed to live in a country where there isn't the vile hatred between the political parties as you get in the USA.

[cute_short_nerd]

Yeah it’s intense and disappointing

[Girther10]

So to answer my question, I’m guessing that for you, there will not be much change in your life. Interestingly, you do not hesitate to take part in the division between parties by openly mocking republicans or conservatives at every opportunity on these very pages. So while incredibly rich, your reply is not surprising given yourapparent lack of self awareness.

[cute_short_nerd]

Politics is a waste of my time right now

[Girther10]

@cute_short_nerd- I was talking to @purplepoppy, not you.

[cute_short_nerd]

Oh lol sorry 😐

[coffeewithcream]

It is more likely than not.
What Americans should be worried about is the serious erosion of democratic institutions and justice norms under the present openly corrupt administration.

[888theGreat]

It will be hell. you will be told how to think, what to think , and won't be allowed to do anything you want to do. It will be the Virus Biden far worse than Virus 19.

[OddBeMe]

Presidents don’t really change that much around us individually. But voting sets a domino effect of policies that change the country. I think Biden will reset a lot of Obama’s achievements, which is why I’m voting for him.

[Girther10]

If Obama had actual achievements, why would Biden need to “reset” them?

[OddBeMe]

There’s achievements and changing the long term culture of America, and then there’s immediate changes to individuals lives.

[AllThatSweetJazz]

Omg I totally forgot about the pens. Pelosi is supreme cancer, man.

[QuietRunner]

I shall resist paying my taxes, as he isn't my President. I don't have to if I don't accept the outcome of the election.

Join the resistance against a possible President Biden!

[zagor]

Unlikely? If Trump was competent and sane he would likely win easily. He is neither, and now that there are crises in the world that need to be dealt with, it is clear to all.

[themythos]

Nothing would change. Most Policies and bills probably wouldn't get passed

[asshole_]

I hope he does win

I'm scared of our federal government

I wish i was in another country right now

[Girther10]

What country do you want to be in, and what’s stopping you from leaving? See, we have a wall on the south, but it’s not to keep people in. Some countries, don’t let you leave, they have walls to keep their people in. But not here, you are encouraged by me, to leave.

[asshole_]

That wall is there, to keep people in. I guarantee you

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Well get ready because Biden is going to win which will be a mistake putting him in the White House.

[cute_short_nerd]

He’s so old he might die from a heart attack too.

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

@cute_short_nerd: He is.

[goodlongman]

Yes think German 1939